SCOTLAND

Buildings

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what occupation costs of each type are incurred for each property used by his Department.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office does not separately record information about the Scotland Office's occupation costs from those of the Office of the Advocate General. Rental and accommodation costs, and income from letting space to other Government bodies, are published in the Scotland Office and Office of the Advocate General annual report and accounts for 2011-12, which is available at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/annual-report-2011-12-for-the-scotland-office-and-the-office-of-the-advocate-general

Buildings

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the names and locations are of all properties used by officials of his Department; whether those properties are (a) owned by the Department, (b) leased by the Department and (c) subject to a private finance initiative agreement; when existing lease agreements relating to such properties are due to expire; and what the total floor space is of each property.

David Mundell: Scotland Office officials use two buildings, Dover House in London and Melville Crescent in Edinburgh. Both buildings are leased. The lease on Dover House expires in July 2013 and on Melville Crescent in August 2014. The total floor space of Dover House is 1424.2 m(2). The total floor space of Melville Crescent is 711.12 m(2).

Official Hospitality

Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what (a) official receptions, (b) charity receptions and (c) receptions for external organisations he held at (i) Dover House and (ii) Melvile Crescent in each year since May 2010; and what the (A) date and (B) cost to the public purse was of each such reception.

Michael Moore: Please see the information requested presented in the following tables:
	
		
			 Financial year 2010-11 
			 Date Event Venue Cost to public purse (£) 
			 2010    
			 13 May University of Edinburgh Alumni (James Tait Black Memorial Prize Short List) Reception (c) Dover House — 
			 27 May ICAS (Institute of Chartered Accountants Scotland) Reception (c) Dover House — 
			 5 June KOSB (Kings Own Scottish Borderers) Association Reception (Colonel's Review) (b) Dover House — 
			 9 June National Trust for Scotland Reception (Beating the Retreat) (b) Dover House — 
			 10 June Poppyscotland Reception (Beating the Retreat) (b) Dover House — 
			 12 June Trooping the Colour Reception (a) Dover House 1,922.41 
			 25 June Armed Forces Event (a) Melville Crescent 1,562.01 
			 5 July John Smith Memorial Event (c) Dover House — 
			 31 August Edinburgh Festivals Reception (a) Melville Crescent 1,608.61 
			 7 October Advocate General hosted Rwanda Event (a) Melville Crescent 37.50 
			 18 October Scottish MPs and Peers Reception (a) Dover House 589.23 
			 19 October Scottish Financial Services Reception (c) Dover House — 
			 20 October Poppyscotland Reception (b) Dover House — 
			 26 October CBI Scotland Reception (c) Dover House — 
			 17 November Mercy Corps Reception (b) Dover House — 
			 15 December Scotch Whisky Association Reception (c) Dover House — 
			     
			 2011    
			 11 January Scotland Bill Team Reception (a) Dover House — 
			 19 January Robert Burns Reception (a) Dover House 525.00 
			 2 February Law Officers Reception (c) Dover House — 
			 22 March CBI Reception (c) Dover House — 
			 30 March Edinburgh Festivals Reception (c) Dover House 350.00 
			 17 May ICAS Reception (c) Dover House — 
			 19 May University of Edinburgh Reception (c) Dover House — 
			 4 June KOSB Association Reception (b) Dover House — 
			 8 June National Trust Scotland Reception (b) Dover House — 
			 9 June Poppyscotland Reception (b) Dover House — 
			 11 June Trooping the Colour Reception (a) Dover House 2,638.07 
			 15 June SCDI (Scottish Council for Development and Industry) Reception (c) Dover House — 
		
	
	
		
			 23 June Veterans Reception (a) Melville Crescent 1,077.23 
			 28 June UNHCR Reception (a) Melville Crescent 68.67 
			 16 August Edinburgh Festivals Reception (a) Melville Crescent 1,221.25 
			 13 September STV Reception (c) Dover House — 
			 14 September VisitScotland Reception (c) Dover House — 
			 18 October SFE (Scottish Financial Enterprise) Reception (c) Dover House — 
			 24 October Scottish Life Sciences Reception (c) Dover House — 
			 25 October CBI Scotland Reception (c) Dover House — 
			 31 October ICAS Reception (c) Dover House — 
			 1 November Poppyscotland Reception (b) Dover House — 
			 2 November Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition Reception (a) Dover House 471.40 
			 1 December SDI (Scottish Development International) Reception (c) Dover House — 
			 13 December Scotch Whisky Association Reception (c) Dover House — 
			 15 December Scottish Media Christmas Event (a) Melville Crescent 532.99 
			     
			 2012    
			 25 January Robert Bums Reception (a) Dover House 3,229.50 
			 6 March CBI Scotland Reception (c) Dover House — 
			 8 March Law Officers Reception (c) Dover House — 
			 15 March Edinburgh International Festival Reception (c) Dover House — 
			 1 May Waverley Care Reception (b) Dover House — 
			 15 May Scotland Act Reception (a) Dover House 3,583.45 
			 9 June KOSB Association Reception (b) Dover House — 
			 13 June National Trust Scotland Reception (b) Dover House — 
			 14 June Poppyscotland Reception (b) Dover House — 
			 16 June Trooping the Colour Reception(a) Dover House 5,663.47 
			 20 June ICAS Reception (c) Dover House — 
			 27 June Constitutional Reception (a)—Abandoned due to MP vote Dover House 20.61 
			 28 June Armed Forces Day Reception (a) Melville Crescent 975.96 
			 30 July SCDI Lunch and Evening Reception (c) Dover House — 
			 31 July Olympic/Culture Reception (a) Dover House 3,650.75 
			 24 August Edinburgh Festivals Reception (a) Melville. Crescent 1,404.84 
			 4 September Scottish Financial Enterprise Reception (c) Dover House — 
			 10 September STV Appeal Launch Reception (c) Dover House — 
			 11 September Byron Society Reception (c) Dover House — 
			 27 September SDI and Scottish Opera Reception (c) Dover House — 
			 23 October Poppyscotland Reception (b) Dover House — 
			 30 October CBI Scotland Reception (c) Dover House — 
			 6 November Carnegie UK Trust Reception (b) Dover House — 
			 27 November St Andrew's Day, Lecture and Reception (a) Dover House. 457.76 
			 6 December University of Edinburgh Reception (c) Dover House — 
			 11 December Scotch Whisky Association Reception (c) Dover House — 
			 12 December Edinburgh Military Tattoo Ambassadors Reception (c) Dover House — 
			     
			 2013    
			 23 January Robert Burns Reception (a) Dover House 3,624.00 
			 29 January MG ALBA Reception (c) Dover House — 
			 11 February Law Officers Reception (c) Dover House — 
		
	
	All expenditure incurred is in accordance with the principles of managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.

Staff

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff are based in each property used by his Department.

David Mundell: 24 Scotland Office officials are based in Dover House and 35 Scotland Office officials are based in Melville Crescent.

Staff

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate his Department's total staffing requirement in full-time equivalent posts for fulfilling its minimum statutory obligations.

David Mundell: An organisational breakdown of staff is available through the:
	https://www.gov.uk
	website at the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/scotland-office/series/scotland-office-structure-and-salaries

NORTHERN IRELAND

Army

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what recent discussions she has had with the Ballymurphy families; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment she has made of the requests of the Ballymurphy families for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the events of 9 to 11 June 1971.

Theresa Villiers: I met the Ballymurphy families on 31 January and advised them that I stood by the decision of my predecessor that a public inquiry or international independent investigation is not in the public interest.

G8

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions she has had with (a) Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive and (b) the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland on policing arrangements for the forthcoming G8 summit in County Fermanagh.

Theresa Villiers: I regularly discuss a range of issues with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive and the Chief Constable, including the G8 summit. In addition, officials in the Northern Ireland Office have been working closely with colleagues in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in order to maximise the benefits which the G8 summit will bring to Northern Ireland. Excellent cooperation and collaboration is ongoing.

Terrorism

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what recent discussions she has had with the Kingsmills families; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what recent discussions she has had or plans to have with the Irish Government about the Kingsmills massacre; and if she will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: I will be meeting the Kingsmills families next month. I have not had any discussions with the Irish Government about the Kingsmills massacre.

WALES

Written Questions

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether the procedure and sign-off process for responding to parliamentary questions in his Department includes review by special advisers.

Stephen Crabb: Ministers are responsible and accountable for all answers to parliamentary questions. Special advisers may provide advice to Ministers, as outlined in the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

TRANSPORT

Car Tax

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what advice he has issued to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency on allowing flexibility on the use of free tax discs awarded to the parents or carers of severely disabled young people in the immediate aftermath of their child's death.

Stephen Hammond: The advice that the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency provides to the parent or carer of a disabled person who has passed away has recently been revised. Officials will adopt a sympathetic approach in these circumstances and will not progress enforcement action within a reasonable period.

Electric Vehicles

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what position the Government plans to adopt at the Council of the European Union on the mandatory installation of acoustic vehicle alerting systems on quiet hybrid and electric vehicles.

Norman Baker: During the early discussions in the Council Working Group, the Government supported the Commission's proposal to allow vehicle manufacturers to voluntarily install acoustic vehicle alerting systems on electric and hybrid electric vehicles. Some Member States are requesting this to be a mandatory requirement and I am considering currently whether to revise our negotiating approach in the light of these, and other international developments.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what compensation is available for property owners in cases where the sale of a domestic property could not be completed as a result of circumstances attributable to his recent announcement on the initial preferred route for High Speed 2.

Simon Burns: The Government is consulting on its proposal to introduce a discretionary Exceptional Hardship Scheme for Phase Two of HS2 which would be available to eligible residential and small business owner-occupiers whose property value may be affected by the proposed route and who can demonstrate that they have a need to sell their property before the statutory protection takes effect. The consultation document is available on the HS2 Ltd website at
	http://www.hs2.org.uk/have-your-say/consultations/phase-two

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he was made aware by officials in his Department that a paving Bill would be necessary in order to continue progress on the High Speed 2 project.

Simon Burns: The Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire Dales (Mr McLoughlin), has emphasised the need to maintain progress on High Speed 2 and minimise delays to the project. He formally took the decision to propose the introduction of a paving Bill at the beginning of this year.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Alec Shelbrooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the application to and allocation of the exceptional hardship scheme for phase two of High Speed 2 will be decided under the same criteria as the exceptional hardship scheme for phase one of High Speed 2.

Simon Burns: We are consulting on the proposed Exceptional Hardship Scheme for Phase Two of High Speed 2. We are proposing that applications should be considered against the same criteria as those for Phase One. We are also proposing that when an application is successful the property should be valued on the same basis as for Phase One, which is that the Government would buy properties at their unblighted market value. The consultation document can be found at
	http://www.hs2.org.uk/have-your-say/consultations
	Consultation closes on 29 April.

Network Rail

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to ensure that Network Rail makes good any damage to neighbouring property caused by their employees or contractors in the course of works at Bescar Lane railway station in Scarisbrick; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether Network Rail employees and contractors are subject to trespass law when accessing their land via property privately owned by a third party;
	(3)  what the job description is of the chief executive of Network Rail;
	(4)  if he will direct the chief executive of Network Rail to respond directly to the hon. Member for West Lancashire’s letter of 11 February 2013 on Bescar Lane railway station in Scarisbrick;
	(5)  if he will investigate actions taken by Network Rail and its contractors in relation to (a) trespass on neighbouring property, (b) damage to neighbouring property and (c) payment of licence agreement fees relating to works at Bescar Lane railway station in Scarisbrick.

Simon Burns: Network Rail is a private sector company limited by guarantee. The nature and impact of its works to Bescar Lane station and any related correspondence arising are operational matters for the company, in which Ministers have no powers to intervene or to issue directions.
	I understand, however, that Network Rail has already been in contact with the hon. Member to arrange a meeting with the company’s route managing director responsible for this area and that a telephone call and site visit on this issue have already taken place to take the matter forward. I understand that a formal response will follow very shortly from Network Rail’s chief executive.
	The job description of the chief executive of Network Rail is also a matter for the company. Details of the roles of Network Rail’s Executive Committee, including its chief executive, and the Executive Committee’s terms of reference are available on the company’s website, at the following link:
	http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/2694.aspx

Rescue Services

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on daylight only maritime rescue co-ordination centres; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Hammond: My predecessor announced on 22 November 2011 that the transition programme to implement the new HM Coastguard structure would be driven by prevailing operational requirements and will therefore be subject to ongoing review.
	Where a maritime rescue co-ordination centre (MRCC) due to close as part of this programme encounters significant staff retention issues, I will consider 12/7 daytime-only operating as a pragmatic interim solution to enable the MRCC to remain operationally viable until its published closure date. This will enable a managed transfer of operations into the future arrangements. Consequently, I announced on 24 January 2013, that the MRCC in Great Yarmouth would move to daytime only operations on 4 March 2013.
	Any decision by Ministers to transfer a MRCC to 12/7 daytime-only operations will be taken on a case by case basis.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Counselling

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of whether Crown Prosecution Service guidelines on counselling for rape victims and other vulnerable witnesses are being uniformly implemented across England and Wales;
	(2)  what recent steps he has taken to ensure that Crown Prosecution Service guideline on counselling for rape victims and other vulnerable witnesses are being uniformly implemented across England and Wales.

Oliver Heald: Comprehensive guidance for prosecutors on whether witnesses should receive counselling has been published by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and has been available since 2001. The guidance: “Provision of therapy for Vulnerable or Intimidated Adult Witnesses prior to a criminal trial” and “Provision of therapy for Child Witnesses prior to a criminal trial”, was endorsed by the Home Office, Department of Health and the Attorney-General’s Office and is available on the CPS website at:
	http://www.cps.gov.uk/publications/prosecution/index.html
	It makes clear that the best interests of the victim or witness, whether an adult or child, are paramount.
	Whether a victim or witness should receive therapy before a criminal trial is not a decision for the CPS. The guidance makes clear that such decisions can only be taken by the victim or witness or his or her carer, in conjunction with the professionals from the agencies providing a service to the victim or witness or with responsibility for the victim or witness’s welfare. Such decisions are not a matter for prosecutors to determine and there is no reason to suspect that prosecutors are not following the well established guidance in this area.

Crown Prosecution Service

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General whether the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) keeps a record of how many times a Crown court judge has requested an application from the CPS on its case handling; and on how many occasions such an explanation has been requested in each of the last two years.

Oliver Heald: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) maintains no central record of the number of times a Crown court judge has requested an application from the CPS on its case handling. Such data could not be reasonably obtained locally or nationally other than by undertaking a manual exercise of reviewing individual case files which would incur a disproportionate cost.

Industrial Health and Safety: Prosecutions

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how many prosecutions of cases referred to it from the Health and Safety Executive have been undertaken by the Crown Prosecution Service in each of the last three years.

Dominic Grieve: The Health and Safety Executive does not refer cases to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Overtime

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Attorney-General what the (a) average cost per member of staff and (b) total cost was of overtime payments in (i) the Law Officers' Departments and (ii) each of its arm's length bodies in (A) 2010-11, (B) 2011-12 and (C) 2012-13 to date.

Dominic Grieve: The information requested is contained in the following table:
	
		
			 £ 
			  2010-11 2011-12 2012-13(1) 
			 Treasury Solicitor's Department    
			 Total cost of overtime 35,907 25,277 20,150 
			 Average cost per member of staff 38 26 20 
			     
			 Attorney General's Office    
			 Total cost of overtime 22,980 25,568 13,846 
			 Average cost per member of staff 547 673 338 
			     
			 HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate    
			 Total cost of overtime 1,092 2,036 — 
			 Average cost per member of staff 28 54 — 
			     
			 Crown Prosecution Service    
			 Total cost of overtime 1,793,794 2,129,432 2,657,810 
		
	
	
		
			 Average cost per member of staff 201 253 331 
			     
			 Serious Fraud Office    
			 Total cost of overtime 118,913 54,911 64,557 
			 Average cost per member of staff 385 180 210 
			 (1) Overtime costs as at 31 December 2012

Prosecutions

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General what estimate he has made of how many fewer cases per year the Crown Prosecution Service will prosecute following the introduction of a proportionality test in the Code for Crown Prosecutors.

Oliver Heald: No estimate has been made of how many, if any, fewer cases per year the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will prosecute following the publication of a revised Code for Crown Prosecutors (the Code) that includes proportionality as one of the issues that prosecutors should consider when deciding if a prosecution is in the public interest.
	Prosecutors take the decision whether to prosecute on a case by case basis according to the facts and merits of each individual case. They follow the guidance set out in the Code. Proportionality is not to be considered in isolation. It must be considered by prosecutors together with the other relevant factors when deciding whether a prosecution is required in the public interest.

Serious Fraud Office

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General 
	(1)  what the average length of a Serious Fraud Office prosecution has been in the last two years;
	(2)  what the longest Serious Fraud Office prosecution has been since 2011; and how long this prosecution took.

Oliver Heald: In 2011-12 the average length of a Serious Fraud Office prosecution was 18.56 months; the equivalent figure for 2012-13 was 28.81 months. The average for 2011-13 was 21.51 months.
	The longest prosecution since 2011 was the Polly Peck case, which took 260 months. As this was an exceptional case owing to the defendant's absconding, the second longest prosecutions are also given. These were cases involving Allied Irish Banks plc and Vintage Hallmark (both 35 months).

Serious Fraud Office

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how many criminal investigations have been initiated by the Serious Fraud Office as a result of (a) referral from another Government agency, (b) referral from a prosecution agency overseas, (c) self-referral from a company and (d) information received from a whistleblower in each of the last three years.

Oliver Heald: The information requested is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 (a) Referral from another Government agency 0 2 1 
			 (b) Referral from a prosecution agency overseas 2 0 0 
			 (c)Self-referral from a company 3 3 1 
			 (d) Information received from a whistleblower 1 2 0

Serious Fraud Office

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how much the Serious Fraud Office has spent training its employees on how to enforce the Bribery Act 2010.

Oliver Heald: While it is not possible separately to identify training on the Bribery Act 2010, the Serious Fraud Office has spent £41,000 on internal courses including training on the Act. Members of the SFO have also attended some courses on or partly devoted to the Act without charge.

Serious Fraud Office

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General 
	(1)  what the average length of a Serious Fraud Office criminal investigation has been over the last two years;
	(2)  how long the longest Serious Fraud Office investigation has been since 2011.

Oliver Heald: In 2011-12 the average length of a Serious Fraud Office criminal investigation was 32.8 months; the equivalent figure for 2012-13 was 25.6 months. The average for 2011-13 was 30.4 months. These figures include cases opened at any time, including some which may date back several years.
	Of cases accepted since April 2011, the longest (WEA01) took 25.0 months from case acceptance to charge. However, this case was originally opened in 2009 and abandoned in 2011 before being re-opened in 2012. Both periods have been included in this calculation.

Serious Fraud Office

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how many prosecutions for (a) fraud, (b) money-laundering and (c) cartel offences the Serious Fraud Office has completed in the last year; and how many such prosecutions were successful.

Oliver Heald: In the last full financial year, 2011-12, the Serious Fraud Office prosecuted 36 individuals for fraud, of whom, 23 were successfully prosecuted. On the same basis, it prosecuted four individuals for money-laundering, two successfully; and two for both fraud and money-laundering, both successfully. There were no prosecutions for cartel offences.
	Definitions of fraud include not only offences under the Fraud Act 2006 (FA 2006), but also the following:
	Dishonesty offences under the Theft Act 1968 that pre-date the FA 2006;
	Statutory conspiracy (relating to dishonesty offences) and common law conspiracy to defraud;
	Aiding and abetting offences (in respect an offence of dishonesty);
	Regulatory offences with a fraud element (e.g. misleading statements contrary to s397 Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, fraudulent trading contrary to section 993 of the Companies Act 2006 and section 458 of its 1985 precursor);
	Forgery and counterfeiting.
	Bribery and corruption offences are not included in the calculation.

Serious Fraud Office

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Attorney-General how many criminal investigations into (a) fraud, (b) money-laundering and (c) cartel offences the Serious Fraud Office has completed in the last financial year.

Oliver Heald: The Serious Fraud Office has completed four criminal investigations into Fraud, one into money laundering and none into cartels in 2011-12. One case has charges relating to fraud and money-laundering, and has been included in both of the first two figures.

Written Questions

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Attorney-General whether the procedure and sign-off process for responding to parliamentary questions in the Law Officers' Departments includes review by special advisers.

Oliver Heald: The Attorney-General's Office does not employ any special advisers.

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Wheelchairs

Bob Stewart: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what assessment she has made of the ease for disabled people in wheelchairs to have people accompanying them, other than their nominated carer, to be placed in the same location when attending public events.

Helen Grant: Provisions in the Equality Act 2010, which prohibit disability discrimination, require providers of services to the public to make a reasonable adjustment where, otherwise, a disabled person would be placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled people. This might include allowing a carer to accompany a disabled guest if the services of a carer are required to ensure that the disabled person is not placed at a substantial disadvantage during an outing.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Council Tax

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department has allocated to each local authority to finance a council tax discount scheme to date; and what formula was used to determine those amounts.

Brandon Lewis: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to him of 25 February 2013, Official Report, column 72W.

Council Tax: Second Homes

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what assessment his Department has made of the abolition of council tax discounts for second home owners;
	(2)  what the average reduction to band D council tax bills has been following the introduction of second home council tax discounts.

Brandon Lewis: The cost of the second homes discount on council tax was estimated to be £43 million in 2011-12. This is equivalent to approximately £2.30 per band D equivalent. For a local authority breakdown of the second homes discount cost, I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 12 September 2012, Official Report, column 246W, where the information was placed in the Library of the House.
	The council tax discount scheme for second homes has not been abolished. From 1 April 2013, billing authorities in England will be able to charge between 50 and 100% council tax, instead of between 50 and 90%, on properties that are considered second homes. The job-related second homes discount of 50%, where someone has to live in a dwelling because of his or her job, will be unaffected.
	Combined with the complementary reforms to council tax relief on empty homes, the new local flexibilities will allow councils to make a £20 reduction in the overall bill for a typical band D property in England, or hold bills down by the same amount.

Empty Property

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many empty homes there were in (a) Pendle constituency, (b) the North West and (c) England in each of the last five years.

Don Foster: Data on empty homes can be found in live table 615 at the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-dwelling-stock-including-vacants
	Data is collected at local authority district level and is not available by parliamentary constituency.

Energy Performance Certificates

Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance his Department has issued on the meaning of the word advertisement in respect of the duty on an estate agent to display an energy performance certificate for each property advertised under the provisions of the Energy Performance Buildings (England and Wales) Regulations 2012.

Don Foster: My Department has not issued any guidance on the meaning of the word ‘advertisement’. This is an ordinary English word which does not require further clarification. Estate agents are not under a duty to display an energy performance certificate for each property that is advertised. The duty is to display the energy performance certificate rating.

Enterprise Zones

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many meetings have taken place between his Department and individual local enterprise partnerships to discuss the development of the Government's 24 enterprise zones; and if he will list each such meeting;
	(2)  how many enterprise zones had submitted their delivery plans to his Department as of 27 February 2013;
	(3)  how many additional jobs have been created in each enterprise zone as a result of the establishment of that zone to date;
	(4)  how many businesses have accessed business rates relief in each enterprise zone to date;
	(5)  how many businesses have accessed enhanced capital allowances in each enterprise zone to date.

Mark Prisk: Details of all Ministers' meetings with local enterprise partnerships and other external organisations are routinely published on my Department's website. Officials within the Department for Communities and Local Government regularly meet individual local enterprise partnerships to discuss a range of matters including the development of enterprise zones.
	Enterprise zones set out their initial approach to delivery in their implementation plans, which they shared with the Government, in autumn 2011. Since then enterprise zones have continued to revise and develop their delivery plans.
	Since the 24 enterprise zones opened for business last April, they have created around 1,700 jobs and attracted £155 million of private sector investment.
	The Government does not hold a central database of information on the businesses that have accessed business rate discount. This information will be held by the relevant local authority.
	The Government does not currently hold any information on companies which may have accessed enhanced capital allowances in each enterprise zone. As enhanced capital allowances are claimed through the tax system, HMRC will have this information available by March 2014. Some tax returns may be filed earlier, which will provide some information, however until all returns are filed a detailed analysis on a zone by zone basis is not possible.
	Across the country enterprise zones have already made significant progress:
	North East Enterprise Zone—Japanese logistics firm Vantec completed its new logistics centre at Sunderland on 5 February. They already employ more than 100 people and expect to increase to about 230 over the next two years.
	Nottingham Enterprise Zone—using the £25 million announced by the Government in November to unlock the site and lever in a further £200 million of private sector investment to deliver 800 new homes and thousands of jobs at the Boots campus.
	Manchester's Airport City Enterprise Zone—has planning permission for the development of a £100 million World Logistics Hub. The new venture will attract new international businesses and help the existing airport businesses to expand, creating over 1,800 new jobs and over 1 million square feet of high quality logistics space.
	Science Vale Oxfordshire Enterprise Zone—construction work is nearing completion on 12 high tech units at Milton Park Science Vale, creating up to 40 new jobs with possibility of further expansion.
	Tees Valley Enterprise Zone—has Durable Technologies Ltd, a designer of energy efficient lighting systems on site. The award-winning firm will see the size of their premises quadruple to 2,400 square feet. Over the next five years they aim to triple their work force.
	New Anglia Enterprise Zone—Nexus opened a new engineering training centre at Beacon Park, Great Yarmouth last October. Nexus is a company which provides training and resources to develop the engineering skills that businesses expected to move into the enterprise zone need.
	Leeds Enterprise Zone—building work has begun on Watershed's new manufacturing premises at Thornes Farm, creating up to 40 new jobs with the potential for further expansion.
	Alconbury Enterprise Zone—former airfield and brownfield site, turned around consent for the marquee 'incubator' building in just 36 days and has attracted environmental technology research and design company Enval.
	Leicestershire Enterprise Zone—has secured £6 million investment from MIRA technology to develop a transport technology facility, creating 40 jobs.
	Royal Docks Enterprise Zone—Siemens opened a £30 million sustainable hub last September. Innovative glass-clad structure which will be home to Siemens' global Centre of Competence Cities, providing 230 jobs and attract 100,000 visitors per year.
	Greater Birmingham Enterprise Zone—Among the sites already progressing within the enterprise zone are the £450 million transformation of Paradise Circus by developers Argent and the relocation of the historic Assay Office to the £160 million St Georges development in the Jewellery Quarter. It expects to give the local economy a £2.8 billion annual boost and create 40,000 new jobs.

EU Grants and Loans

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will list the outstanding projects from the UK for which applications for European regional development funding has been sought but not yet granted; when he expects those projects to receive funding; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: The Secretary of State is only responsible for European Regional Development Fund in England and not the entire UK. In relation to England, answering this question would incur a disproportionate cost.
	It is not practical to answer this request since to do so would involve interrogating a very large number of separate projects across England whose status and progress through the application process changes daily.

Fire Services: Training

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many fire officers have received training in an overseas country in each of the last five years.

Brandon Lewis: My Department does not collect this information. Training is the responsibility of the individual fire and rescue authorities, who are the employers. Fire and rescue authorities should ensure that all expenditure on training is fully justified, and offers value for money.

Housing Associations: Greater London

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the introduction of universal credit on the finances of housing associations operating in London; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: The Department for Communities and Local Government is working alongside the Department for Work and Pensions to ensure that universal credit is designed in a way that protects social landlords' financial position. To help achieve this, we are working closely with a group of social landlords from six areas across the country on the direct payment demonstration projects, to test the impact of paying housing benefit direct to tenants. In London, we are working with Southwark council and Family Mosaic housing association.
	More information, including the payment rates for the first four payments of the projects (three, in the case of Edinburgh) and further background can be found in the press package released by the Department for Work and Pensions in December 2012:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/direct-payment-demo-figures.pdf
	a copy of this document is available in the Library of the House.
	A key aim of the demonstration projects is to explore the best safeguards to protect tenants and social landlords from the risk of increases in rent arrears. The projects are also helping local authorities and housing associations understand how they need to prepare for the introduction of universal credit. We intend to use the evidence gathered from the projects to inform the design of universal credit, including these safeguards to protect the financial position of social landlords and reduce the risks of tenants falling into debt.

Housing Benefit

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many cases of overpayment of housing benefit were identified by each local authority in England in each of the last five years; and how many such cases were the result of error on the part of the local authority.

Brandon Lewis: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not collect data on cases of overpayment of housing benefit nationally or for individual local authorities in England.

Housing: Construction

John Healey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many additional houses he expects the Housing Guarantee Scheme to create in (a) the private rented sector, (b) the social rented sector and (c) the social rented sector and available at social rent.

Mark Prisk: The affordable housing guarantee and associated capital grant (where needed) of up to £225 million will help deliver up to 15,000 additional affordable homes in England. The scheme rules for the affordable housing guarantee scheme set out that affordable homes supported with the guarantee in England can be for affordable rent or affordable home ownership, but not for social rent, in order to maximise the number of homes that can be delivered. Offers for affordable rent at less than 80% of local market rent will continue to be considered, and the social rent “target rent” will remain the floor for affordable rent below 80% of market rent.
	I would note that the National Audit Office has previously endorsed the affordable rent model as the '’best delivery model’ for maximising the number of affordable homes with the level of grant funding available (National Audit Office, ‘Financial viability of the social housing sector: introducing the Affordable Homes Programme’, 4 July 2012, HC465).
	We have not set out how many additional private rented homes the private rented sector guarantee scheme will support, because it is a demand-led scheme, which will create a new market in professionally managed, large-scale private rented property, and attract new investment.

Local Enterprise Partnerships

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidelines his Department has issued to ensure that local enterprise partnerships engage with local black and minority ethnic communities.

Mark Prisk: It is down to each local enterprise partnership to determine how it engages with its local community. However, we would certainly encourage all to actively engage with all sections of the community, including black and ethnic minorities. Therefore, when we invited local areas to come forward with their proposals for local enterprise partnerships we did not provide detailed guidance on their form and function.

Local Government Finance: Sefton

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what net change in Government grants Sefton municipal borough council will experience in financial year (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14;
	(2)  what the net change in Government grants was for Sefton municipal borough council in financial year 2011-12.

Brandon Lewis: Changes in overall spending power for all local authorities for the local government finance settlement for 2013-14 and for the years from 2011-12 are set out on our website at:
	http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/1314/settle.htm
	and at:
	http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/ssas.htm

Local Government: Dual Mandate

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consideration he has given to ending the practice of dual mandates in local authorities for elected members.

Brandon Lewis: None. The Government has no plans to change current law and practice whereby an appropriately qualified person may hold two or more elected mandates relating to different tiers of local government. The electorate are able to decide at the ballot box on the appropriateness of such dual local mandates; we should trust the people.

Local Government: Leeds

Alec Shelbrooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions he has had with Leeds council on (a) the amount of debt the council owes, (b) the interest paid on debt in 2012, (c) the value of its art collection and (d) the percentage of its art collection displayed on council premises.

Brandon Lewis: While I am not aware of recent discussions with that council, I note that these issues are currently a matter of wider public debate.
	As we indicated in “50 ways to save”, there is scope for leasing or loaning such works so that they can get a wider public audience while maintaining municipal ownership, and generate an income stream for councils.
	Further to the comments of the right hon. Member for Leeds Central (Hilary Benn) of 19 December 2012, Official Report, column 875, questioning the merits of such creative innovation, I understand that freedom of information requests and research by Councillor Harry Phibbs have indicated that Leeds city council owns almost 1.3 million separate works of art and exhibits, worth at least £100 million, and only a small minority of items are ever on display.

Non-domestic Rates

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will make an assessment of the effect of the postponement of the business rate revaluation to 2017 on the expected rate of business failure in each of the next five years.

Brandon Lewis: As I outlined in my written statement of 18 October 2012, Official Report, column 32-33WS, the postponement will avoid local firms and local shops facing unexpected hikes in their business rate bills over the next five years. A revaluation at this point would be likely to result in sharp changes to business rate bills in many parts of the country and in many sectors. Tax stability is vital to businesses looking to grow and help improve the economy.
	In addition, my written statement of 12 November 2012, Official Report, column 2-4WS, highlighted the Valuation Office Agency's high-level estimates of the effect of a 2015 revaluation. They estimated that 800,000 premises would see a real terms increase in their rates bill at a 2015 revaluation (compared to only 300,000 seeing a reduction), and they listed particular sectors which would be likely to see very large hikes in bills because of that revaluation.

Non-domestic Rates

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he has made an assessment of the effect of increasing numbers of voluntary organisations on local authority revenue streams from business rates; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: Local authorities have discretion to determine when to make discretionary relief available to voluntary organisations and eligible businesses. That will continue under business rates retention since the scheme makes no change to the system of reliefs available to voluntary organisations, charities and other eligible businesses. Any changes in costs of providing additional reliefs will be shared 50:50 between central and local government. This 50:50 sharing simply reflects the broader sharing of business-rate revenues between central and local government under the new localised system.

Non-domestic Rates: Renewable Energy

Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 25 October 2012, Official Report, column 64WS, on business rate retention scheme, whether he plans to make an announcement on non-domestic rating for other forms of low carbon technology.

Brandon Lewis: Under the Government’s business rates retention scheme, all local authorities will benefit from growth in business rates collected locally, including from low carbon technology.

Non-domestic Rates: Renewable Energy

Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 25 October 2012, Official Report, column 64WS, on business rate retention scheme, for what reasons (a) nuclear projects and (b) other forms of low carbon technology were not included in the proposed non-domestic rating (renewable energy projects) regulations.

Brandon Lewis: The non-domestic rating (renewable energy projects) regulations give effect to the commitment, in the Government’s Programme for Government, to allow communities hosting renewable energy projects to keep the additional business rates those projects generate. Communities hosting nuclear projects and other forms of low carbon technology, as well as all other businesses, will also benefit from the business rates retention scheme being introduced in April 2013.

Nuclear Power Stations: Construction

Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on how many occasions (a) he, (b) his Ministers and (c) officials in his Department have met with (i) HM Treasury, (ii) the Department for Energy and Climate Change, (iii) the Cabinet Office and (iv) other Government Departments to discuss (A) community benefits for new build nuclear projects and (B) business rate retention for new build nuclear projects in the last 12 months.

Brandon Lewis: Ministers and officials have regular discussions with other Government Departments on matters of mutual interest.

Procurement

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of procurement contracts offered by his Department has been advertised on the Contracts Finder website since that website's inception.

Brandon Lewis: My Department has been advertising contracting opportunities since May 2011 (prior to this, technical issues hindered documents being routinely uploaded to the Contracts Finder website; these issues were subsequently resolved).
	41 out of 42 (98%) of relevant contracting opportunities have been advertised on Contracts Finder since 1 June 2011.
	The missing contract opportunity (a research contract for expert advice on dangerous substances in buildings) was an oversight by officials. Ministers are keen for all relevant opportunity to be advertised to a wide audience.

Property Development: Floods

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many houses have been built on flood plains in (a) Yorkshire and the Humber and (b) Haltemprice and Howden since 2002; and what assessment he has made of the effect such building has had on the potential for an increase in the severity of flooding in the future.

Nicholas Boles: holding answer 10 December 2012
	Published land use change statistics show the proportion of new dwellings built in flood risk areas. The information can be found at:
	www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-land-use-change-statistics
	The information is not held by parliamentary constituency.
	An assessment of flood risk is made by the applicant and submitted with the planning application. The Environment Agency provides advice to the local authority to inform their decision on the application. Inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk, but where development is necessary, making it safe without increasing flood risk elsewhere. In all cases they should be safe for their projected lifetime taking climate change into account, must not increase flood risk elsewhere and, where possible, overall flood risk should be reduced.
	Local plans should be supported by strategic flood risk assessment and develop policies to manage flood risk from all sources, taking account of advice from the Environment Agency and other relevant flood risk management bodies, such as lead local flood authorities and internal drainage boards.

Recruitment

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department has spent on advertising job vacancies since May 2010.

Brandon Lewis: My Department has spent £3,298 on advertising specialist posts (this excludes spending that was commissioned in April 2010 but paid under this administration, as detailed in the answer of 2 November 2011, Official Report, column 655W).
	To place such overall spending in context, the Department spent £601,605 on advertising (of all types) in 2009-10.
	I also observe the £57,389 of taxpayers' money that was spent by the Department in a roughly comparative period under the last administration just on job advertisements in The Guardian, as outlined in the answer to my question of 16 December 2010, Official Report, column 933W.

Recycling

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of steps being taken by local authorities to increase recycling; and which local authority has the best record in this area.

Brandon Lewis: While the Department for Communities and Local Government does not officially assess local authorities on recycling, it believes they should all be making steps to improve their recycling rates, and make recycling services more convenient for residents. It maintains, however, that this should not be done to the detriment of residual waste collection services. In nearly all cases, the 90 successful bids to the Department's £250 million Weekly Collection Support Scheme announced in November 2012 proposed delivering enhanced recycling services, making it easier for residents to recycle. As these bids sought to retain or reinstate weekly collections of residual waste, the scheme demonstrates that you don't have to have a fortnightly collection to deliver high quality recycling services. Furthermore, 41 of the successful bids propose offering genuine rewards (such as shopping vouchers or loyalty points) for recycling. The Department supports such incentive schemes.
	The Department for Communities and Local Government would not wish to name any local authority as having "the best record" on recycling. There are many factors to consider alongside pure recycling rates, such as: the quality and frequency of the local residual waste collection; the quality of the local recycling services provided to residents; and the amounts of household waste generated per head. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs does publish statistics on recycling rates and the following link presents the latest published data for 2011-12:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/statistics/files/2011-12-ANNUAL-publication-LA-level_WITHOUTLINKS.xls

Temporary Accommodation

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether a household currently housed in temporary accommodation by a local authority will be found to be intentionally homeless if the household benefit cap restrictions result in their being unable to pay their rent.

Mark Prisk: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the noble Lord, Lord Freud in Grand Committee on the 6 November 2012, Official Report, House of Lords, column GC1023.

Written Questions

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the procedure and sign-off process for responding to parliamentary questions in his Department includes review by special advisers.

Brandon Lewis: Ministers are responsible and accountable for all answers to parliamentary questions. Special advisers may provide advice to Ministers, as outlined in the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

HOME DEPARTMENT

British Nationality

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many dual nationals have had their UK nationality removed since May 2010;
	(2)  whether the Government has removed a person's nationality and rendered an individual stateless since May 2010.

Mark Harper: British nationality law only requires the Secretary of State to consider statelessness when deciding whether to remove British citizenship from individuals if it is conducive to the public good to do so.
	Since May 2010 a total of 16 dual national individuals have had their UK nationality removed for this reason in accordance with British Nationality Act 1981 s.40.
	The Government has not rendered an individual stateless when removing their UK nationality on conducive grounds. To do so would be in contravention of the British Nationality Act (1981).
	This information has been provided from local management information and is not a National Statistic. As such it should be treated as provisional and therefore subject to change.

British Nationality

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  for what reason Mahdi Hashi was deprived of his British citizenship;
	(2)  when the decision was taken to deprive Mahdi Hashi of his British citizenship;
	(3)  when Mahdi Hashi was informed of the decision to deprive him of his British citizenship;
	(4)  how Mahdi Hashi was informed of the decision to deprive him of his British citizenship.

Mark Harper: As this matter is currently subject to litigation, it would not be appropriate to discuss the detail of this case. Section 40(2) of the British Nationality Act 1981 provides that the Secretary of State may deprive a person of citizenship if she is satisfied that such deprivation is conducive to the public good. Section 40(5) provides that notice must be given of a deprivation decision. The British Nationality (General) Regulations 2003 specify how such notice must be served on the individual.

Crimes of Violence: Railways

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been assaulted or harassed on trains in each of the last five years.

Jeremy Browne: The information requested is not available centrally. The recorded crime series does not include the location of an offence only the numbers of offences.

Customs: Orchids

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many orchids have been confiscated at UK borders in each of the last five years.

Mark Harper: Border Force does not specifically record the number of orchids seized at the border but groups items under a live plants heading. The most recent published data on live plants and their derivatives seized, which was provided to the Environmental Audit Committee on Wildlife Crime, is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Seizures Number of Items Seized Weight of Items Seized (kg) 
			 2008-09 53 2,100 1,124.2 
			 2009-10 38 36,393 23,109.3 
			 2010-11 28 4,921 19,457.0 
		
	
	The figures and the transcript of the committee hearing can be found at:
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmenvaud/140/140.pdf
	Data for 2011-12 and the current year have not been published.

ICT: Foreign Workers

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effects on employment opportunities for UK IT professionals of recent trends in use of the intra-company visa system to bring non-EU IT professionals to the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Mark Harper: The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) advises the Government on migration issues. The MAC considered this complex issue in its Tier 2 report published on 28 February 2012. It did not make any recommendations for change.

Illegal Immigrants: Employment

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many business establishments in (a) the UK, (b) the east of England and (c) Essex have been fined for employing illegal foreign national workers in each year since 2008.

Mark Harper: The number of businesses served with civil penalties for employing illegal workers is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Calendar year Number of businesses in UK Midlands and east of England region Essex 
			 2008 1,169 237 31 
			 2009 2,269 379 43 
			 2010 2,092 347 22 
			 2011 1,424 286 20 
			 2012 1,215 187 24 
			 Note: The figures provided are sourced from a UK Border Agency management information system which is not quality assured under National Statistics protocols and is subject to change due to internal data quality checking. Figures provided from this source do not constitute part of National Statistics and should be treated as provisional. 
		
	
	The decrease in the number of businesses served with civil penalties from 2010 can be explained as follows: employers’ increased awareness of the regime together with improved guidance on the UK Border Agency website; providing clear advice on how to conduct document checks to verify a person’s right to work, has contributed to an increase in employer compliance. The agency’s work in summer 2012 under Operation Mayapple targeted enforcement activity on overstayers, including students whose leave had been curtailed. This activity drives up compliance across the board. Robust debt recovery processes have also been implemented with employers becoming increasingly aware that where penalties are not paid, debt recovery enforcement action will commence against them.

Immigration

Duncan Hames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for elderly dependent relatives from non-EEA countries to obtain leave to stay in the UK UK Border Agency have (a) received, (b) granted, (c) refused and (d) not processed since July 2012.

Mark Harper: holding answer 25 February 2012
	The immigration rules governing the settlement (indefinite leave) of adult dependent relatives changed in July 2012. This route is now only accessible to applicants applying from outside the UK.
	The latest published figures for July to December 2012 on applications from outside the UK, and grants issued and refusals outside the UK, of entry clearance visas providing settlement (indefinite leave) to dependants (other than children or partners, of those who were settled in the UK or British citizens), are given in the following table. Published statistics do not separately identify entry clearance visas not processed.
	
		
			 Entry clearance visa applications from outside the UK, and resolutions, providing settlement (indefinite leave) to dependants (other than children or partners, of those who were settled in the UK or British citizens) 
			      Of which:  
			 Quarter Applications Resolved Issued Percentage Refused Percentage Withdrawn or lapsed 
			 2012 Q3 (July to September) 650 760 402 53 345 45 13 
		
	
	
		
			 2012 Q4 (October to December) 456 699 277 40 421 60 1 
			 Note: Decisions (resolutions) may relate to applications made in earlier quarters, and may include decisions based on rules in place before July 2012. Source: Table be.0l.q,Family route: Other (for settlement), “Immigration Statistics October-December 2012”. 
		
	
	The published statistics do not separately identify how many of these applications and decisions outside the UK on entry clearance visas providing indefinite leave to dependants (other than children or partners, of those who were settled in the UK or British citizens), relate to elderly dependent relatives.
	Information on applications from outside the UK and grants issued and refusals outside the UK, for entry clearance visas by category, is published, as part of the Home Office's quarterly Immigration Statistics, which is available from the Library of the House and on the Home Office Science website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/science-research/research-statistics/migration/migration-statistics1/

Immigration: EU Nationals

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance her Department issues to the UK Border Agency on removing from the UK citizens of other EU member states who are seeking to access public services but who are not exercising their treaty rights under the Free Movement Directive; and if she will make a statement.

Mark Harper: The guidance is set out in chapter 50 of the Enforcement Instructions and Guidance (EIG) manual. This is available to view on the UK Border Agency website via the following link:
	http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/enforcement/detentionandremovals/chapter50-eea?view=Binary

Mayor of London

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has for the devolution of additional powers to the Mayor of London; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: It is a key role of Government to keep under review the powers and responsibilities of all statutory bodies and ensure that they best serve the public interest.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letter to the Minister for Immigration dated 14 January 2013 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Ms Kemi-Louise Omobote.

Mark Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 21 February 2013.

Members: Correspondence

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to reply to the letter of 4 December 2012 from the hon. Member for Warley regarding the case of Mrs Dhuga.

Mark Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 4 March 2013.

Nuclear Weapons

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what studies she has commissioned on the effects of a nuclear weapon (a) ground burst and (b) airborne detonation over a UK city.

James Brokenshire: The 2010 National Security Risk Assessment (NSRA), which informed the 2010 National Security Strategy, included both state and terrorist use of nuclear weapons in the UK. This assessment is reviewed biennially to ensure it continues to reflect the most up-to-date evidence. It includes an assessment of harm to people; the economy and infrastructure and territory as well as restrictions on our freedom to act in UK national interests and psychological impacts. The precise details of the assessment, and the evidence it draws upon, remain classified for national security reasons.

Passports

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2013, Official Report, column 123W, on passports, if she will consider collecting data on (a) the age of individuals whose passports were returned, (b) the reasons for the return of passports and (c) the source from which passports return; and if she will make a statement.

Mark Harper: In 2010, almost 55,000 passports were returned to the Identity and Passport Service (IPS). In 2011 the figure was around 60,000 and in 2012, 53,000. We are able to obtain general data around the age of the passport holder from the returned passports as detailed by age group in the following table.
	
		
			  Age Group Percentage 
			 2010 Under 18 8 
			  18-24 39 
			  25-50 36 
			  50+ 17 
			    
			 2011 Under 18 7 
			  18-24 41 
			  25-50 35 
			  50+ 17 
		
	
	
		
			 2012 Under 18 7 
			  18-24 40 
			  25-50 36 
			  50+ 17 
		
	
	We have no plans to collect information centrally on the reasons for the return of all passports or the source from which these passports are returned.

Passports: Republic of Ireland

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what change there has been in the number of people applying for British passports through the British embassy in Dublin between 2000 and 2011.

Mark Harper: We do not hold data on the number of applications received, only on the number of passports issued.
	The following table shows the yearly production statistics between 2000 and 2011 for Dublin.
	
		
			  Passports issued 
			 2000-01 6,871 
			 2001-02 7,657 
			 2002-03 9,142 
			 2003-04 10,024 
			 2004-05 10,893 
			 2005-06 10,817 
			 2006-07 11,817 
			 2007-08 9,671 
			 2008-09 9,093 
			 2009-10 8,947 
			 2010-11 9,191

Prostitution

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the number of prostitutes working in the UK who are (a) women, (b) men, (c) under the age of 16, (d) suffering from a drug addiction, (e) homeless, (f) supporting dependants and (g) working for another person's gain;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the average age of people working as prostitutes.

Jeremy Browne: The Home Office has made no formal assessment of the number and profile of prostitutes working in the UK.
	In October 2011, the Home Office published a review of effective practice aimed at empowering local areas to respond effectively to prostitution in terms of policing, exiting, minimising harm and general multi-agency working. Our review highlighted for local areas the importance of prevention, including identification of child sexual exploitation, and holistic support, including addressing alcohol and drug use.

Social Networking: Crime Prevention

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the usefulness of social media in preventing crime.

Jeremy Browne: While the Home Office has not made an overall assessment into the usefulness of social media in preventing crime, social media is one of many channels and approaches used as part of specific crime reduction initiatives and campaigns and has been proven to be successful in communicating crime prevention messages. For example we have used facebook and YouTube to reach teenagers as part of the effective teen relationship abuse and rape prevention campaigns and the Home Office Press Office online media centre routinely uses social media to spread crime prevention messages to the public. Our Twitter account has more than 64,000 followers, which has trebled in the last 12 months.
	From an operational perspective, following the August 2011 riots, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary's subsequent report, The Rules of Engagement: A Review of the August 2011 Disorders, recommended the establishment of an ‘all source hub' to:
	“draw... together all available information, including... social media monitoring”.
	That hub was put in place before last year's Olympics and continues to monitor social media to assist the police in preventing public disorder and in responding to a range of incidents.

Staff

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff were employed at the (a) UK Border Agency, (b) UK Border Force and (c) Identity and Passport Service in January (i) 2011 and (ii) 2010.

Mark Harper: holding answer 1 March 2013
	The information is as follows:
	As at 31 January 2010:
	(a) There were 15,864 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff employed at the UK Border Agency.
	(b) There were 8,725 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff employed at UK Border Force.
	(c) There were 4,366 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff employed at the Identity and Passport Service.
	As at 31 January 2011:
	(a) There were 14,699 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff employed at the UK Border Agency.
	(b) There were 8,438 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff employed at UK Border Force.
	(c) There were 3,987 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff employed at Identity and Passport Service.
	Full-time equivalent means that part-timers are counted by the proportion of full-time hours they work, so that a part-timer working half the time of an equivalent full-timer would count as 0.5 FTE.
	Data for UK Border Agency and UK Border Force as recorded on central personnel system ADELPHI, adjusted to include the UK Border Agency work force serving abroad paid via the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
	Data for the Identity and Passport Service as recorded on data view, the Home Office’s source for the Office for National Statistics compliant monthly snapshot corporate Human Resources data.

Staff

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff are currently employed at the (a) UK Border Agency, (b) UK Border Force and (c) Identity and Passport Service.

Mark Harper: holding answer 1 March 2013
	The information is as follows:
	As at 31 January 2013:
	(a) There were 13,457 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff employed at the UK Border Agency.
	(b) There were 7,827 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff employed at UK Border Force.
	(c) There were 3,440 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff employed at the Identity and Passport Service.
	Full-time equivalent means that part-timers are counted by the proportion of full-time hours they work, so that a part-timer working half the time of an equivalent full-timer would count as 0.5 FTE.
	Data for UK Border Agency and UK Border Force as recorded on central personnel system ADELPHI, adjusted to include the UK Border Agency work force serving abroad paid via the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
	Data for the Identity and Passport Service as recorded on data view, the Home Office’s source for the Office for National Statistics compliant monthly snapshot corporate Human Resources data.

Tourists: Passenger Ships

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions have taken place between Ministers and (a) the UK Chamber of Shipping and (b) cruise industry representatives on the introduction of face-to-face immigration checks for day visitors to UK ports.

Mark Harper: Home Office Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of international partners, as well as organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of these meetings are published on the Cabinet Office website on a quarterly basis.

Travel

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department spent on (a) the Government Car Service and (b) other taxi or car services for ministerial travel in each year since 2009-10; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: Information on expenditure on the Government Car Service is published annually in a written ministerial statement and can be found within the Libraries of both Houses and at:
	2009/10:
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm101028/wmstext/101028m0001.htm# 10102827000372
	2010/11:
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201212/cmhansrd/cm120116/wmstext/120116m0001.htm# 12011611000194
	2010/12:
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm121220/wmstext/121220m0001.htm# 12122056000216
	Official cars are an essential service for Ministers in order that they can carry out their work effectively but we are committed to continuing our focus on the cost of this service.
	Details of the costs for 2012-13 will be published in the normal way later this year.
	Information on taxi services used by Ministers in each year since 2009-10 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Visits Abroad

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times she has visited (a) Romania, (b) Bulgaria, (c) Poland and (d) the USA in an official capacity.

Mark Harper: holding answer 25 February 2013
	Home Office Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of international partners, organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors, as well as making overseas trips, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of these meetings and trips are published on the Cabinet Office website.

Written Questions

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the procedure and sign-off process for responding to parliamentary questions in her Department includes review by special advisers.

James Brokenshire: Ministers are responsible and accountable for all answers to parliamentary questions. Special Advisers may provide advice to Ministers, as outlined in the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she intends to answer question no. 140113, tabled on 24 January 2013 for answer on 28 January 2013.

James Brokenshire: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 28 February 2013, Official Report, columns 596-97W.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the benefits to the creative industries of the UK's EU membership.

Edward Vaizey: The Government is undertaking a comprehensive review of the Balance of Competencies of the EU as it affects the United Kingdom. The benefits to the creative industries will be assessed within the context of that review, which is due to conclude in 2014.

Broadband

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of the UK she expects to be covered by 4G mobile services in each of the next five years.

Edward Vaizey: The roll-out timetable for these services is a commercial decision for the mobile network operators.
	Ofcom included an indoor coverage obligation in one of the 800 MHz lots of spectrum. The winner of this lot is Telefonica UK Ltd. This operator is obliged to provide 4G mobile services for indoor coverage to at least 98% of the UK population and at least 95% of the population of each of the UK nations by the end of 2017. This obligation should result in more than 99% outdoor coverage for the UK population.
	EE currently provides 4G mobile services to 38 towns in the UK and plan to increase this to more than 65 by the end of June. Towards the end of 2013, Ofcom will be publishing details of the areas and broadband speeds that each operator is providing on their 4G networks.

Broadband

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the potential merits of altering Broadband UK rules to ensure competition in the supply of superfast broadband services.

Edward Vaizey: Local authorities and devolved Administrations undertaking broadband projects supported by Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) need to ensure their procurements comply with EU procurement and state aid rules. Projects with funding from the Rural Broadband Programme are able to undertake their procurements using the Broadband Delivery Framework agreement that has been put in place by BDUK but this is not a requirement. 34 projects under the programme are using the framework and the remaining 10 have undertaken their own separate procurements using the EU competitive dialogue procedure.

Broadband: Rural Areas

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she expects to announce the projects to be funded under the Rural Community Broadband Fund.

Edward Vaizey: Announcements about Rural Community Broadband Fund projects will be made jointly by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) when they have completed the assessment and approval process. The development of projects by applicants requires that they have appropriate levels of capability and capacity to deliver sustainable projects and it is therefore necessary to make a rigorous assessment of each project. To date, three projects have been given pre-contract approval and a fourth is due to be announced shortly. Further announcements will be made when projects have demonstrated that they meet the fund's criteria.

Defamation

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has held with the Attorney-General and the Secretary of State for Justice on steps to protect the families of victims of murder from malicious falsehoods being disseminated as fact by the media.

Edward Vaizey: The Leveson Inquiry was established by the Prime Minister to look into the culture, practices and ethics of the press following revelations of press misconduct. Since the report's publication, cross-party talks are under way to facilitate a tough new regulatory framework for the press which can deliver public confidence and justice for the victims of press misconduct. The Ministry of Justice is closely involved with this work, and the Secretary of State has worked with colleagues across Government. The press is already, of course, subject to the law on libel and malicious falsehood where applicable.

Football

George Galloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will set up an independent inquiry into the role and influence of agents in professional football.

Hugh Robertson: The Government recognises the strong feeling about the way that some agents appear to operate and the potential consequences for conflicts of interest and transfer fee and salary inflation. We support the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee's recommendation that the Football Association should continue to press FIFA to provide an international solution.

Mayor of London

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans she has for the devolution of additional powers to the Mayor of London; and if she will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: My Department has no immediate plans to devolve additional powers specifically to the Mayor of London. Devolution of power should also be to the lowest appropriate level—down to councils, to neighbourhoods, to community groups and to individuals. However, the Government will in the near future be publishing its response to the Heseltine Review, which included a number of recommendations regarding London.

Sports: Facilities

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to ensure that local sports and leisure facilities are affordable.

Hugh Robertson: Local clubs and local authorities set the prices for their services. Many offer concessions for families, children and older people and those on lower incomes.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Arms Trade: Treaties

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to help bring about an arms trade treaty; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The UK has played a leading role over the last seven years in international efforts to achieve a robust, effective, legally binding, and global arms trade treaty. This remains a top priority for the Government, offering the prospect of a better future to millions who live in the shadow of armed violence. In July last year, we made important progress on a draft text. In November, the UK and key partners secured overwhelming support at the UN for a conference to conclude the treaty this month in New York. We are lobbying states at the highest levels and will continue to do so up to and throughout the conference both in New York and from London. We are also supporting the president-designate and working closely with key states, with industry, and with civil society groups.
	A treaty is now within our grasp and the Government will spare no effort to secure it.

Bahrain

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the treatment in detention of Dr. Ali Ekri, Dr. Al Samahiji and Ibraheem Aldemestani in Bahrain; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: Dr Alekri, Dr Samaheejee and Mr Aldemestani are serving between one and five years for charges relating to taking part in illegal gatherings and inciting violence to overthrow the Government.
	We are aware from media reports that the families of the three individuals the hon. Member refers to have raised concerns that they are currently being held in solitary confinement.
	The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), and I have frequently stressed the need for Bahrain to meet all of its human rights obligations and we continue to urge the Government to ensure that civil liberties are protected, particularly where severe penalties are imposed.

Bahrain

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to his Bahraini counterparts about the removal of nationality of 31 Bahraini citizens by the Bahraini Government in November 2012.

Alistair Burt: As I said in my statement of 29 November 2012, our view is that revoking citizenship, which leaves individuals stateless, is a negative step and ultimately a barrier towards reconciliation.
	We urge the authorities to conduct full and transparent investigations into any of those accused of crimes. Any charges against these individuals should be based on strong, credible evidence that will stand up to scrutiny.

Bahrain

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether officials in his Department have made any statements to the Bahraini media in connection with the removal of nationality of 31 Bahraini citizens by the Bahraini Government in November 2012.

Alistair Burt: Our ambassador in Bahrain gave an interview to a local newspaper, “Al Ayam”, in November 2012 during which the issue of the citizenship revocation was raised.

Bangladesh

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support his Department is giving to the maintenance of parliamentary democracy in Bangladesh.

Alistair Burt: Political participation is a crucial element of any democracy. The UK is committed to working with all stakeholders in Bangladesh to support the development of a stable, prosperous and democratic society. To achieve this, Bangladesh needs to have strong, independent and accountable institutions and a functioning Parliament at the centre of political debate. The Minister of State, my noble Friend the right hon. Baroness Warsi visited Bangladesh in mid-February. In her meetings with senior political leaders, including the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition, she emphasised the importance of the parties working together to ensure free and fair elections that would reflect the will of the Bangladeshi people. She also met with the Chief Election Commissioner and discussed how he and the Election Commission could help in this process.
	The UK, through the Department for International Development and international partners, provides support to parliamentary democracy in Bangladesh through a number of key projects under its Strengthening Political Participation programme, including Democratic Participation and Reform, Promoting Democratic Institutions and Practices and Strengthening Election Management in Bangladesh. These aim to support parliamentary engagement with civil society, further strengthen the skills and systems of the Election Commission; support Parliament to become more open and effective; and strengthen the checks and balances on the political process, through civil society advocacy for more responsive political institutions.
	Peaceful, credible elections that express the genuine will of the voters are the mark of a mature, functioning democracy.

Business

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government plans to respond to the UN (Ruggie) Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

David Lidington: The Government has been working on a UK strategy on business and human rights—based on the UN (Ruggie) Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights—and hopes to launch this soon. The UK is looking to be one of the first countries to produce a national strategy to implement the Guiding Principles. The strategy will express the Government’s expectation that British companies will show respect for human rights in their operations in the UK and internationally.

Cluster Munitions

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the governments of (a) Canada, (b) the United States and (c) Singapore requesting them to adopt the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

Alistair Burt: We have over an extended period promoted the universalisation of this important convention, which we see as the gold standard to which all states should adhere. We will continue to take all available opportunities to encourage and promote universal adherence to the convention.

Falkland Islands

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department holds on whether discussions were held in the 1980s with the government of Argentina on the establishment of an Argentine naval base on the Falkland Islands.

Hugo Swire: I can confirm that, based on the information held by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from 1982 until 1990, no discussions were held with the Government of Argentina on the establishment of an Argentine naval base on the Falkland Islands.
	Any documents originating from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's South America Department covering discussions between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Argentina up to and including the Falklands Conflict in 1982 have been transferred to The National Archives in accordance with standard procedures set out in the Public Records Acts of 1958 and 1967 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This would include records or information relating to any discussions on the establishment of an Argentine naval base on the Islands prior to the Conflict. It is conceivable that relevant material may exist in files which have not yet been reviewed for transfer to The National Archives although we have not yet identified any such material. An exhaustive search of archives not yet transferred could be achieved only at disproportionate cost.

Haiti

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the United Nations regarding its decision not to compensate cholera victims in Haiti.

Hugo Swire: There have been no ministerial discussions with the United Nations on the compensation claim by cholera victims in Haiti. The UK is not directly party to this matter. The UN has taken a transparent approach and has kept officials from the UK and other UN member states informed throughout. UK Aid contributed to cholera treatment and prevention following the outbreak in 2010 and in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2012. It is important now that the international community continues to work together to ensure better health and a better future for the people of Haiti.

Haiti

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the claim for compensation from the United Nations by cholera victims in Haiti.

Hugo Swire: The compensation claim was filed against the United Nations. The UK is not directly party to this matter. The UN has taken a transparent approach and has kept officials from the UK and other UN member states informed throughout. UK Aid contributed to cholera treatment and prevention following the outbreak in 2010 and in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2012. It is important now that the international community continues to work together to ensure better health and a better future for the people of Haiti.

Middle East

Nigel Adams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the security situation in the Sinai Peninsula.

Alistair Burt: We remain concerned about the security situation in the Sinai and have raised our concerns with the Egyptian authorities following a number of attacks against Egyptian security forces in 2012, including on the Egypt-Israeli border. The Egyptian authorities have increased their efforts to address the threat, recognising the need for a holistic response including local development as well as security measures. Foreign and Commonwealth Office Travel Advice warns against all travel to the Governorate of North Sinai and against all but essential travel to the Governorate of South Sinai.

Ministerial Policy Advisers

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what procedures are in place within his Department to deal with breaches of the code of conduct by special advisers.

David Lidington: Matters relating to special advisers are handled in accordance with the ministerial code, the model contract and code of conduct for special advisers.

Nationality

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which sovereign states are known by his Department to have the power to deprive citizens of their citizenship for reasons other than that the citizenship has been obtained by deception.

Hugo Swire: This information is not held centrally. It would involve disproportionate cost to obtain it.

Nuclear Weapons

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representation his Department plans to have at the forthcoming Conference on the Consequences of Nuclear Weapon Use in Oslo on 4 and 5 March, organised by the Norwegian Foreign Minister; and if he will arrange to (a) place in the Library and (b) post on his departmental web site (i) any submissions to the conference made by the UK and (ii) any submissions made that make reference to UK policy.

Alistair Burt: After careful consideration, the Government will not be sending a representative to the conference on the ‘humanitarian consequences of Nuclear Weapons’ in Oslo.
	The Government supports fully the objective of a world without nuclear weapons, and is committed to working with all nations in pursuit of this shared goal. We fully understand the serious consequences of any use of nuclear weapons and will, alongside our P5 partners, continue to give the highest priority to ensuring that such consequences are avoided. While we recognise the seriousness of this subject and attach the utmost importance to it, we are concerned that the conference in Oslo will divert discussion and focus away from the practical steps required to create the conditions for further nuclear weapons reductions.
	We believe that the practical, step-by-step approach that we are taking to progress multilateral nuclear disarmament through existing mechanisms such as the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and Conference on Disarmament, have proven to be the most effective means to increase stability and reduce nuclear dangers. We will therefore continue to work together with our P5 colleagues, and non nuclear weapon states, toward strengthening the foundation for mutual confidence and further disarmament efforts.
	The Government has not made any submissions to the conference and has not, to date, received any submissions made by other parties to the conference.

Palestinians

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli government on civilian casualties in Gaza.

Alistair Burt: The Government has repeatedly called on Israel to observe international humanitarian law and do everything possible to avoid civilian casualties, including in the context of the Gaza conflict last November. We have made clear to Israel our longstanding concerns about the manner in which the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) polices the buffer zone between Israel and Gaza. In the context of recent cases of Palestinian civilians killed by the IDF in both Gaza and the West Bank, officials from our embassy in Tel Aviv have reiterated our concerns over the IDF's use of live ammunition with both the Israeli Ministry of Defence and National Security Council.

Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi

Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Libyan government for the transferral of Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi to the International Criminal Court to stand trial.

Alistair Burt: The Government has raised on numerous occasions with the Libyan authorities at the highest levels the need for them to engage with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in line with their obligation under UN Security Council Resolution 1970, including most recently on 13 January when Her Majesty's ambassador to Libya met the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The Libyan authorities are cooperating with the ICC with respect to the ongoing proceedings. Libya submitted an admissibility challenge to the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber in May 2012 arguing that the Libyan investigation should have primacy over that of the ICC and that Saif should be tried in Libya. It is now for the ICC to decide whether to accept this challenge.

Saudi Arabia and Oman

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what recent steps he has taken to improve bilateral co-operation with (a) Saudi Arabia and (b) Oman in the fight against Islamic extremism;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the importance of co-operation with Saudi Arabia in fighting the threat of Islamic extremism in the UK.

Alistair Burt: Saudi Arabia is a key partner for the UK in tackling terrorism particularly from Yemen-based al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which has expressed its intent to target the West and Western interests in the region. The Saudi authorities have been unequivocal in condemning al-Qaeda's actions. British-Saudi collaboration has resulted in the foiling of terrorist attacks.
	We continually look for ways to further improve our excellent bilateral co-operation with key partners, including Saudi Arabia and Oman, and regularly discuss these issues at ministerial and official level. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), discussed our co-operation with the Saudi National Security Advisor and Head of General intelligence, HRH Prince Bandar bin Sultan, on 25 February. The Minister of the Interior of Saudi Arabia, HRH Prince Mohammed bin Naif, also visited the UK on 9 January 2013, and discussed our strong counter-terrorism co-operation with the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May). I visited Oman on 11 February for the UK-Oman Joint Working Group, and discussed our regional foreign policy priorities, including Islamic extremists with the Secretary-General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi.

Terrorism

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the adoption by the United Nations of the comprehensive convention on international terrorism.

Alistair Burt: The UK supports the principle of a comprehensive convention on international terrorism.

Tunisia

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will hold discussions with the authorities in Tunisia on freedom of expression when the new Government of Tunisia is formed.

Alistair Burt: Tunisia has made significant progress in its political transition, including free and fair elections, encouraging greater media freedom and the drafting of a new constitution that safeguards the rights and fundamental freedoms of all Tunisians.
	I spoke with the Tunisian Secretary of State for European Affairs on 7 February where I raised concerns about freedom of expression. We are aware of the ongoing debate on whether freedom of expression should be constrained by legislation to protect sacred values and we continue to monitor developments closely.
	We continue to support Tunisia's democratisation process. We are working through our Arab Partnership programme, the EU and with international financial institutions and our G8 presidency to support political reforms and to help the Tunisian Government tackle the major economic and security challenges it faces.

Yemen

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the bombing of targets in Yemen by Saudi Arabian forces; whether aircraft manufactured by UK suppliers were involved; whether UK nationals were involved in Operation capability support for such missions; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: We are aware of press reports that Saudi Arabian forces were involved in strikes against al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQ-AP) targets in Yemen in early January 2013. In a press interview on 5 January, the Saudi Foreign Minister HRH Prince Saud al Faisal stated that Saudi Arabia had not been involved.
	Reducing the threat posed by violent extremists in Yemen is a priority for the Yemeni Government as it seeks to restore security and stability throughout the country. Saudi Arabia is both the UK and Yemen's key partner in combating the threat from al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, which retains the intent and capability to carry out attacks domestically and against the West.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Electoral Register: British Nationals Abroad

Gary Streeter: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will commission qualitative research to determine why more British citizens living overseas do not register to vote in UK elections.

Chloe Smith: As of 1 December 2011, there were 23,388 registered overseas electors. This is a relatively small proportion of the estimated 5.6 million British nationals living overseas.
	The Government is committed to doing all it can to maximise registration, including among British citizens living overseas. For example as part of the move to individual electoral registration, to help simplify the registration process we plan to remove the current requirement for a person's initial application as an overseas elector to be attested by another British citizen resident abroad.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Advisory Committee on Pesticides

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the name is of each member of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides; and whether any member has declared that he or she is (a) in the employ of or (b) has received funding from companies selling neonicotinoid pesticides.

David Heath: The members of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides (ACP) are:
	Dr Andrew Povey;
	Dr Gary Bending;
	Dr Stephen Waring;
	Professor Richard Shore;
	Professor Andrew Smith;
	Dr Simon Wilkinson;
	Dr John Cocker;
	Mr Richard Davis;
	Ms Jennifer Dean;
	Mr Derek Finnegan;
	Dr Martin Hare;
	Dr Caroline Harris;
	Professor Tom Hutchinson;
	Mr Philip Jackson;
	Professor Edward Lock;
	Dr Chris Morris;
	Professor Keith Palmer; and
	Dr William Parker.
	No member has declared that they are in the employ of companies selling neonicotinoid pesticides.
	Dr Harris and Professor Hutchinson have declared that their employers have received funding from companies selling neonicotinoid pesticides. Arrangements for dealing with declarations of interest are posted on the ACP webpages. In the case of neonicotinoid pesticides one of these two members has not been present during the discussions after declaring a personal specific interest.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what reports he has received on the outturn of EU budget negotiations on future subsidy payments for farmers.

David Heath: The allocation of UK common agricultural policy (CAP) receipts for direct payments has yet to be confirmed. It is therefore difficult to say what level of funding the UK will receive for direct payments in the future.
	Nevertheless, the Commission's proposal of 12 October 2011 on rules for direct payments sets the ceilings for direct payments at member state level over the next Financial Perspective (2014-20). This would amount to an overall UK allocation for direct payments of approximately €25.6 billion. Following the EU budget deal on 8 February, it has been estimated that there will be a minor reduction in the overall UK allocation for direct payments when compared with the Commission's original proposal. We will, however, have to wait for final confirmation from the Commission as to what the final amount for the UK will be.

Alcoholic Drinks

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the level of alcohol-related absenteeism in his Department; whether his Department has an (a) internal alcohol policy and (b) occupational health strategy; and if he will publish such documents.

Richard Benyon: There were only two cases since 2009 in Core DEFRA where alcohol-related sickness was recorded as the reason for absence; however, it is likely to be a contributory factor in a higher number of cases. Core DEFRA’s managing attendance policy contains guidance for managers and staff on substance (alcohol and drugs) abuse. This policy also includes guidance on occupational health services. The policy will be placed in the Library of the House. The managing attendance policy is currently under review to ensure that it reflects best practice within the civil service.

Animal Welfare: Slaughterhouses

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when his Department will publish the result of the consultation on the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing.

David Heath: The Government's consultation on measures to implement EU Regulation 1099/2009 on the Protection of Animals at the Time of Killing closed on 24 October 2012. We are currently considering the responses received. Once this process has been completed a response will be published as quickly as possible on the DEFRA website.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects a cull on badgers to be rolled out throughout the UK.

David Heath: Badger culling will be piloted initially this summer in two areas to confirm our assumptions about the effectiveness, humaneness and safety of controlled shooting. An independent panel of experts will oversee and evaluate the pilots before reporting back to Government. Ministers will then decide whether the policy should be rolled out more widely, to up to ten new areas per year, starting in 2014.

British Waterways

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the successes and failures of the move of British Waterways from a public corporation to a new charitable body; and how his Department plans to use the results of that assessment to inform the process for the creation of a new independent public body to hold UK forests in trust.

Richard Benyon: An assessment of the lessons learned from the New Waterways Charity Project was undertaken shortly after the functions, assets and liabilities of British Waterways in England and Wales had been transferred to the Canal & River Trust (CRT). The assessment did not identify any particular successes or failures which would have direct relevance to the work to set up a new body to manage the Public Forest Estate. The new public body will be a different type of organisation from CRT but we will draw on the experience gained in establishing CRT as we develop the new body.

Crayfish

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many licences the Environment Agency has issued for crayfish trapping in the latest period for which figures are available.

Richard Benyon: The Environment Agency has issued the following number of licenses for crayfish trapping since 2007.
	
		
			  Number of licences issued 
			 2007 458 
			 2008 582 
			 2009 637 
			 2010 774 
			 2011 882 
			 2012 987 
		
	
	The data presented are for England and Wales. The authorisations issued are for non-native species of crayfish and are for the purposes of scientific survey, personal consumption, commercial and fishery management.

Crayfish

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people have been arrested for illegal crayfish trapping in each of the last 10 years.

Richard Benyon: There have been no prosecutions for illegal crayfish trapping in the last 10 years. Illegal traps are often unauthorised and therefore the owners are difficult to trace. Any illegal traps found are removed by Environment Agency officers.

Crayfish: Hampshire

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many licences the Environment Agency has issued for crayfish trapping in Hampshire in the last three years.

Richard Benyon: The Environment Agency has issued the following number of licenses for crayfish trapping for the area in the last three years.
	
		
			  Number of licences issued 
			 2010 5 
			 2011 2 
			 2012 2 
		
	
	The data presented is from the area in which Hampshire sits. These areas are defined by catchment and not county boundaries. The authorisations issued are for non-native species of crayfish and are for the purposes of Scientific Survey, Personal Consumption and Fishery Management.

Crayfish: Wiltshire

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many licences the Environment Agency has issued for crayfish trapping in Wiltshire in the latest period for which figures are available.

Richard Benyon: The Environment Agency has issued the following number of licenses for crayfish trapping for the area in the last three years.
	
		
			  Number of licences issued 
			 2010 10 
			 2011 6 
			 2012 8 
		
	
	The data presented is from the area in which Wiltshire sits. These areas are defined by catchment and not county boundaries. The authorisations issued are for non-native species of crayfish and are for the purposes of Scientific Survey, Personal Consumption, Commercial and Fishery Management.

Dangerous Dogs

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimate he has made of the number of dangerous dogs.

David Heath: The total number of dogs placed on the register of exempted dogs in 2012 is as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
			 England 451 
			 Wales 24 
			 Scotland 2 
			 Total 477

Dangerous Dogs

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 6 February 2013, Official  Report, on tackling irresponsible dog ownership, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in the devolved Administrations on the issue of compulsory microchipping.

David Heath: Dog microchipping is a fully devolved matter but DEFRA has kept devolved Administrations informed of our proposals.

Dangerous Dogs

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 6 February 2013, Official Report, on tackling irresponsible dog ownership, if he will publish an updated impact assessment of the new microchipping proposals.

David Heath: A final updated impact assessment will be published when the regulations are laid next year.

Dangerous Dogs

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 6 February 2013, Official Report, on tackling irresponsible dog ownership, for what reasons the Government has decided not to introduce dog control orders.

David Heath: Dog Control Orders already exist under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 but are due to be replaced by the new Home Office measures to tackle antisocial behaviour. The new antisocial behaviour measures will enable local authorities and other practitioners to intervene early in a variety of low level nuisance behaviour including where such behaviour involves a dog. These wide ranging measures will avoid the need to introduce separate and specific low level controls in respect of dogs.

Dangerous Dogs

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 6 February 2013, Official Report, on tackling irresponsible dog ownership, what plans he has to issue a definition of the terms (a) owner and (b) keeper of a dog in relation to his proposals.

David Heath: We have not yet finalised the microchipping requirements. Part of our considerations are whether such definitions need to be included.

Floods

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department has taken to reduce the effect of flooding on productive agricultural land.

Richard Benyon: Productive agricultural land continues to benefit from DEFRA's ongoing funding for flood risk management. For example, flood defence schemes which completed in 2011-12 provided an improved standard of protection to more than 180,000 acres of farm land. Many other agricultural areas benefit from the Environment Agency's flood defence maintenance work.
	DEFRA's policy statement on the appraisal of flood and erosion risk management underlines the need to value agricultural land and the damages that can occur as a result of flooding or erosion when considering how best to manage flood risk. Our new Partnership Funding approach means funding is available towards any worthwhile scheme, including where agricultural land would be the primary or sole beneficiary of taxpayer investment. Under the previous 'all or nothing' funding approach, schemes in more rural areas struggled to make the threshold for Government funding.

Food: Contamination

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Europol's involvement in the investigation of contaminated food products.

David Heath: The European Police Office (Europol) is the EU Agency that promotes cooperation between law enforcement bodies in the EU. It does not conduct investigations itself and has no coercive powers. But it can assist member states' investigations by providing analytical support, enabling closer liaison and information exchange and supporting joint investigation teams. For the time being the Food Standards Agency remains the leading investigating and enforcement authority for the UK. However, member states have agreed to use Europol to coordinate law enforcement efforts.

Food: Labelling

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he next expects to meet the Irish Minister for Agriculture; whether he will discuss food labelling and food provenance policy issues at that meeting; and if he will make a statement.

David Heath: I have regular discussions with Simon Coveney, the Irish Minister for Food, Agriculture and the Marine. I am working closely with my counterparts in Ireland, and across Europe to ensure that the current unacceptable situation with horsemeat cannot happen again. This includes a three month programme of DNA testing of beef products across the EU covering domestic and imported products, the first results of which will be published on 15 April. I made a statement detailing next steps on 13 February 2013, Official Report, column 741W.

Food: Labelling

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment in the Scottish Government on food labelling and provenance policy since 5 February 2013; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with representatives of the Scottish Government on food labelling and provenance policy issues since 1 January 2013; and if he will make a statement.

David Heath: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the right hon. Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson), spoke with Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment in Scotland, on 10 February about the ongoing investigation of horsemeat and adulterated beef products. The Food Standards Agency is working closely with the Food Standards Agency Scotland on this investigation. Richard Lochhead agreed to support any action that could be taken which would give consumers the appropriate reassurance they need on the authenticity of foods. I had a discussion with representatives of the devolved Administrations on 13 February.
	Also on 13 February the Secretary of State met agriculture Ministers from a number of other member states together with the Health and Consumer Policy Commissioner in Brussels. He requested this meeting to ensure co-ordinated action is taken across Europe so that consumers can have confidence in what they buy.
	The Secretary of State updated colleagues from the devolved Administrations, including Richard Lochhead on 15 February. Richard Lochhead also attended a meeting with the food industry representatives hosted by DEFRA on 18 February.
	The Secretary of State has since met Richard Lochhead at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting in Brussels on 25 February. The Secretary of State issued a written ministerial statement on 27 February 2013, Official Report, column 26-28WS, updating the House on the Council discussions.

Food: Labelling

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the outcomes were of his discussions with his ministerial counterpart in the Republic of Ireland on (a) food policy provenance issues, (b) horsemeat, (c) food labelling issues and (d) passports for horses; and if he will make a statement.

David Heath: I am working closely with my counterparts in Ireland and across Europe to ensure that the current unacceptable situation with horsemeat cannot happen again. This includes a three month programme of DNA testing of beef products across the EU covering domestic and imported products, with first results by 15 April. In addition, both domestic and imported horsemeat will be tested for bute. The current paperwork based system will be replaced by a programme of testing real products.
	Secondly, we agreed to a new intelligence system so that information about the current investigations can be shared immediately. This will enable other EU member states to act immediately if they have any suspicions that food businesses are not playing by the rules. Member states also agreed to use Europol to co-ordinate law enforcement efforts. Thirdly, because of the urgency with which we have to deal with what is clearly an international issue, we agreed that the European Commission's report and recommendations on labelling the origin of all processed meat should be accelerated and published as soon as possible. I expect that this will provide consumers with clearer and more reliable information on where meat products come from. I made a statement to this effect on 13 February 2013, Official Report, column 741W.

Forestry Commission

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what Forestry Commission programmes are supported by the fees charged by the Forestry Commission in visitor car parks.

David Heath: Any revenues generated from car parking charges at sites on the public forest estate are reinvested in that forest area. The type of work this involves varies depending on the site and is an operational decision for the Forestry Commission. Some typical examples include trail maintenance, litter picking, the provision of dog waste bins and maintenance of the car park itself.

Government Procurement Card

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance or instructions have been issued to staff in (a) his Department and (b) its arm's length bodies about the timing of the publication of data relating to spend over (i) £25,000 and (ii) £500 using the Government Procurement Card.

Richard Benyon: HM Treasury guidance requires Departments and their arm's length bodies to publish data on all transactions over £25,000, one month in arrears. If the data is available before the end of the month it should be published as soon as the Department has cleared it for release.
	Cabinet Office guidance requires Departments to publish data for Government Procurement Card transactions over £500 in core Departments, two months in arrears. For arm's length bodies, the guidance states that retrospective data for 2011-12 should be published by end of March 2012, and that data for later periods should be published on a timetable at the Department's discretion.

Horse Passports

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many horse passports have been issued since 2003.

David Heath: As at 2 July 2012, some 1,352,153 passports had been issued by horse passport issuing organisations in the United Kingdom.

Horses: Databases

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Government is giving consideration to reinstating the National Equine Database.

David Heath: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the right hon. Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson), met representatives from across the equine sector on 21 February to look at ways in which we can work together to tighten and improve the current horse passport system and to get an update on the work industry is doing to develop a replacement for the National Equine Database. He committed to continue to work with industry on these issues.

Horses: Databases

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what information his Department holds on the 32,000 potential duplicate records of horses in the UK identified by the National Equine Database prior to its closure in 2012.

David Heath: The National Equine Database was a repository of horse and owner data supplied by each individual horse passport issuing organisation (PIO). It was not capable of automatically identifying or rejecting duplicate information. PIOs continue to be legally responsible for limiting the issue of multiple passports for the same animal by consulting the paper and electronic records available to them. Horses issued with duplicate or replacement passports are automatically signed out of the food chain.

Horses: Slaughterhouses

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when (a) his Department and (b) the Food Standards Agency first received correspondence from the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on that organisation's concerns regarding the slaughter of horses and horse passports.

David Heath: Neither DEFRA nor the Food Standards Agency have a record of receipt of correspondence from the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals highlighting concerns regarding the slaughter of horses or horse passports.

Horses: Slaughterhouses

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many thoroughbred race horses (a) in training, (b) in breeding and (c) out of training were slaughtered in UK abattoirs in (i) 2011 and (ii) 2012.

David Heath: DEFRA does not hold the data requested; it only holds data on the total number of horses slaughtered for human consumption. In 2011, 9,011 horses were slaughtered for human consumption, and 9,405 in 2012.

Mayor of London

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has for the devolution of additional powers to the Mayor of London; and if he will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA currently has no plans to devolve additional powers to the Mayor of London.

Meat: Contamination

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what reports he has received on the (a) name, (b) location and (c) ownership of meat plants which may have been the sources of the horsemeat found in beefburgers.

David Heath: Any information received by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the right hon. Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson) in response to the current investigation into the use of horsemeat in the food chain is forwarded on to the Food Standards Agency as the appropriate competent enforcement authority.
	The FSA and the police, working with their counterparts across Europe, are involved in a complicated and far-reaching investigation. It would not be appropriate to provide information that may affect a live investigation at this time.

Meat: Contamination

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times assessment and testing for horsemeat and other substances has taken place at each meat processing plant in the UK in each of the last five years; on how many occasions food provenance or safety issues were identified; and on how many occasions that led to police investigations and convictions.

David Heath: Directive 96/23/EC requires member states to conduct an annual surveillance programme to check that authorised veterinary medicinal products are being used correctly in food producing animals and that unauthorised substances are not present.
	The programme, operated by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), is required to cover red meat species (including horses) and poultry meat. (It also covers eggs, milk, farmed fish, honey and game). Over 32,000 samples are taken annually in the UK and tested for a wide range of substances. The results are considered by the independent Veterinary Residues Committee (VRC) and published on the VRC website for 2007 to 2011:
	www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/vrc
	Final results for 2012 are not yet available but non-compliant samples were notified to the VRC during the year in papers entitled “Statutory surveillance programme” which are also on their website.
	There are around 350 red meat and poultry meat abattoirs so it would entail disproportionate cost to provide details of how many samples have been taken in individual premises in each of the last five years, which are taken based on their throughput.
	None of the non-compliant results in the past five years have been deemed serious food safety issues or sufficiently serious on investigation to merit referring the matter to the police.
	In addition, the Food Standards Agency and local authorities in the UK have a programme of food surveys to check the safety and authenticity of food which uses a wide range of testing methods including DNA.
	In 2011-12 local authorities took 78,653 food samples, which underwent 92,181 analyses by Official Control Laboratories. These included 18,219 compositional analyses, 11,879 analyses of food for labelling and presentation and 55,546 microbiological analyses.

Meat: Ritual Slaughter

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what tests the Food Standards Agency is conducting to ensure that food in the public sector food supply chain labelled as halal does not contain pork DNA.

David Heath: It is the responsibility of all food businesses to ensure that the food they sell is what it says it is and that consumers are not misled. DEFRA's food authenticity programme develops and validates methods to detect the presence of pork in foods. These methodologies are made available as standard operating procedures to support testing by public analysts and industry.
	The Food Standards Agency delegates responsibility to local authorities for enforcing food safety legislation in food premises, covering the food supply chain from food manufacturing, processing, packing, distribution and storage through to catering and retail, including in the public sector.
	There are no specific regulations governing the sale and labelling of halal or kosher meat. However, if meat is labelled as such, this must not mislead the consumer. Certification is provided by private organisations.
	The Government's unit for engaging faith communities at DCLG will be hosting discussions between DEFRA, the Food Standards Agency and representatives of kosher and halal organisations this month. These discussions will cover how the Government is responding to the recently reported contamination of meat products through its testing programme and the approaches being used to detect contamination.

Members: Correspondence

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to the letter of the Minister of Natural Environment and Fisheries to the hon. Member for Chesterfield of 24 October 2012, ref MC276618, when the hon. Member's constituent can expect a substantive response to his original concerns raised on 21 June 2012 about the welfare of buzzards.

Richard Benyon: I provided a substantive response on 20 November 2012. I have written to the hon. Member enclosing a copy of that reply.

Nature Conservation: Crime

Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what date the Government will publish its response to the Law Commission’s consultation on wildlife law.

Richard Benyon: Following its consultation, the Law Commission anticipates presenting DEFRA with its final proposals shortly, to which the Government will then respond.

Nature Conservation: Crime

Tom Harris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what date the Government plans to respond to the Environmental Audit Committee’s third report of Session 2012-13, HC 140, on wildlife crime.

Richard Benyon: The Government is currently finalising its response to the report’s recommendations and we will send it to the Committee as soon as we can. The Committee will publish the response in due course.

Nutrition

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to promote the benefits of home cooking to parents.

Anna Soubry: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department of Health.
	Change4Life since its launch in 2009 has promoted home cooking by offering healthier recipes that are simple to prepare. The recent Be Food Smart campaign has led to over 450,000 hard copy healthier recipe "Meal Mixers" being ordered so far and the online and app versions have been used to view millions of recipes.
	The Be Food Smart Roadshow started in January and will be running through to the end of March 2013 visiting shopping centres and other similar venues around the country offering advice, recipes, activities and cookery demonstrations.

Porpoises

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he will respond to requests for information from the European Commission with regard to the UK's position on designating protection sites for harbour porpoises under Article 4 of Directive 92/43/EEC; and if he will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: The UK replied to the European Commission's request for information on the designation of Special Areas of Conservation for Harbour Porpoise on 17 December 2012.

Schmallenberg Virus

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the economic effect of the Schmallenberg virus on (a) farmers and (b) regional economies.

David Heath: The information is not held in the format requested. Economic assessments were carried out on an epidemiological assessment completed in early 2012, looking at the potential spread of Schmallenberg virus (SBV) in GB, the impact and risk across different regions of the country. As the true impact was not known at that time, we used estimates based on other similar viruses and the UK livestock distribution.
	This demonstrated that for infection in counties south of the midlands, which were determined to be at high or medium risk of SBV spread in 2011-12, if losses occurred on 5% of cattle and sheep farms and in 10% of the herd or flock, the cost to sheep farmers would be approximately £1 million, and for cattle farmers approximately £2.5 million. This is less than the economic impact of other common industry managed livestock disease such as mastitis in dairy cows, and foot rot in sheep. Widening the assessment to include counties deemed to be at low risk of infection in 2011, increased costs to farmers by about a third.
	Another scenario tested was 20% of all cattle and sheep farms in the high and medium risk areas being affected. This increased costs to sheep farmers to approximately £4 million, and to cattle farmers to approximately £10 million.
	Since carrying out these assessments, we now have information from the EU and our own UK farms on the impact and spread. These confirm actual impact to overall be lower than our estimates (although of course the impact on an individual flock or herd may be substantial), and we are now looking at reviewing the economic impact to take these into account.

Training

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on training and education for civil servants in (a) 2010-11 and (b) 2011-12; and if he will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: The information to answer this question is not readily available and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Turtles: Cayman Islands

Stuart Andrew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department plans to take to ensure that the Cayman Turtle Farm fulfils its commitment to improve conditions at the farm.

Richard Benyon: Responsibility for animal welfare and biodiversity conservation in the Overseas Territories is devolved to Territory governments, which are responsible for the development and implementation of appropriate legislation, policies and practices in devolved matters. The Cayman Turtle Farm is therefore the responsibility of the Cayman Islands Government.
	The Governor's Office in the Cayman Islands is keeping DEFRA officials up to date on progress by the farm in improving the conditions in which the turtles are kept, following the recent investigation into its turtle husbandry practices.
	I understand that the farm is committed to taking action and has drafted an action plan in response to the independent inspection report published on 25 January.
	The farm's commitments include:
	the recruitment of a full-time veterinarian;
	the establishment of a scientific advisory committee to monitor implementation of the action plan; and
	amending the procedures and improving monitoring at the turtle touch tanks.

UK Trade and Investment

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on the development of agricultural export expertise within UK Trade and Investment.

David Heath: I have had recent discussion with Lord Green in context of Cabinet sub-committee on the development of agricultural export expertise within UK Trade and Investment (UKTI).
	DEFRA collaborates closely with UKTI to promote exports from the farming, food and drink sector. DEFRA, UKTI and industry jointly lead the action plan, ‘Driving Export Growth in the Farming, Food and Drink Sector’, published in January 2012. This sets out how Government and industry will work together to open up and take advantage of key markets. The Business Ambassadors Group of business and university leaders also work with the Government to promote the UK's excellence internationally and highlight trade and investment opportunities. Business ambassadors with expertise in agriculture include James Townshend, chief executive of Velcourt.

Written Questions

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the procedure and sign-off process for responding to parliamentary questions in his Department includes review by special advisers.

Richard Benyon: Ministers are responsible and accountable for all answers to parliamentary questions. Special advisers may provide advice to Ministers, as outlined in the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

CABINET OFFICE

Charities

Bob Stewart: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent research his Department has conducted on the effect of the Government's Big Society policy on the charitable sector.

Nick Hurd: While we do not commission specific research of this nature there are a range of relevant research studies which might be consulted. For instance there is the recent Community Life survey:
	http://communitylife.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/
	which found giving was unchanged and volunteering had increased.

Cycling

Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  whether his Department is signed up to the Government's Cycle to Work scheme;
	(2)  whether the Deputy Prime Minister's Office has signed up to the Government's Cycle to Work scheme;
	(3)  who his Department's cycling champion is;
	(4)  who the cycling champion is in the Deputy Prime Minister's Office;
	(5)  what progress his Department has made on implementing the Cycle to Work guarantee;
	(6)  what progress the Deputy Prime Minister's Office has made on implementing the Cycle to Work guarantee.

Francis Maude: For the purposes of corporate administration and financial management, the Deputy Prime Minister's Office is an integral part of the Cabinet Office. The Cabinet Office is not a signatory of the Cycle to Work Guarantee, however we do back Business Cycle, which aims to get more people cycling to work.
	The Cabinet Office has no specific cycling champion. However we do offer a range of facilities for cyclists including interest free loans to purchase bicycles, showers and lockers. Since May 2010 we have also installed a secure storage facilities for bicycles in 70 Whitehall.

Internet

John Robertson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps he is taking to increase disabled people's internet usage.

Nick Hurd: The Government is committed to making public services available online through its digital by default strategy. In support of this, the Government Digital Service (GDS), part of Cabinet Office are working with groups such as Go-ON:UK an independent charity and the eAccessibility Forum, run by the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) in conjunction with central Government Departments to make sure that no one is excluded from access to digital services.
	The Government continues to commit resources to meeting these aims through its Government Digital Strategy.

Olympic Games 2012

John Mann: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what Government vehicles were used to transport Ministers in his Department to London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games events.

Nick Hurd: In line with the Ministerial code, Ministers are permitted to make use of official cars for official business. Following the practice of previous Administrations, full details of travel are not usually disclosed. However, the Minister for the Cabinet Office used a Government Car to attend an Olympics event at the Greenwich Royal Artillery Barracks on 2 August 2012.

Procurement

Priti Patel: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what assessment he has made of the proposals by Dr Stephen Castell to secure potential savings from ICT procurement; and if he will make a statement.

Chloe Smith: Cabinet Office officials have met with Dr Castell and made an assessment of his proposals to make savings from high-end ICT procurement by purchasing second hand equipment. However, we do not believe these proposals offer value for money in the context of the Government ICT Strategy.
	The Government saved over £400 million from ICT in the first half of this year, in addition to £354 million in 2011-12 and £300 million between June 2010 and March 2011.

Sick Leave

Marcus Jones: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how many days of paid sickness leave per individual member of staff are authorised in his Department on an annual basis;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to reduce sickness absence in his Department.

Francis Maude: Staff qualify for sick leave if they are unable to work due to illness or injury. Staff may receive full pay for the first six months of an absence and half pay for a further six months, subject to a maximum of 12 months' paid sick leave in any four year period. As part of civil service reform this entitlement is being reviewed.
	The average number of working days lost through sickness in the Cabinet Office currently stands at 2.2 days per employee, based on a rolling 12-month period. This is a reduction of 1.2 days on the same period last year, and compares with a civil service average of 7.6 days.

Social Incubator Fund

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what organisations in each region have received support from his Department's Social Incubator fund; and how much has been dispersed to each region.

Nick Hurd: The Social Incubator Fund was launched in July 2012. So far the fund committed to grant two incubators:
	Wayra and UnLtd: £1,219,006
	Bethnal Green Ventures: £900,000.
	Both of these organisations will be focused on technology-based social ventures. They are based in London but have defined plans to reach beyond London.

Written Questions

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether the procedure and sign-off process for responding to parliamentary questions in his Department includes review by special advisers.

Francis Maude: Ministers are responsible and accountable for all answers to parliamentary questions. Special advisers may provide advice to Ministers, as outlined in the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Arctic

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the increased rate of loss of Arctic ice; and what steps he is taking at national and international level to address this issue.

Gregory Barker: Satellite and other observations show a major decline in Arctic sea ice summer extent of about 40% since 1979, when the satellite records began, and in winter ice thickness which has nearly halved in some parts of the Arctic over the past 40 years, where measured. The rate of decline in summer sea ice extent has accelerated in the past 15 years and has now reached an unprecedented rate of about 12% per decade. The summer extent fell to its lowest value ever recorded (3.41 million km(2)) in September 2012, 18% lower than the previous minimum recorded in 2007 (4.17 million km(2)).
	Arctic sea ice extent and thickness are expected to continue to decline in line with increasing global temperatures. Scientific views vary considerably as to when the Arctic could be effectively ice-free in summer. Recent models project this to occur between 2030 to 2050 but some analysts suggest it could happen even sooner.
	The observed reductions of Arctic sea ice extent and thickness, and the consequent regional environmental and societal impacts, emphasise the urgent need for strong international action to tackle climate change. The Government is working through the UNFCCC process for the adoption of a legally binding global agreement applicable to all Parties by 2015, to come into force from 2020 with the long-term aim of avoiding dangerous levels of climate change by keeping the global temperature rise below 2°C. Action is also being taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions domestically in line with the Government's commitments under the Climate Change Act.

Biofuels

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he is taking to reduce the negative externalities of biomass.

John Hayes: The UK Bioenergy Strategy was jointly published in April 2012 by DECC, DEFRA and the Department for Transport. This sets out key principles to steer a sustainable course including that biomass used for energy generation—across the heat, electricity and transport sectors—must deliver real, cost-effective greenhouse gas savings. Support for bioenergy should also aim to maximise the overall benefits and minimise costs, including managing possible impacts on food security and biodiversity.
	We are bringing in robust sustainability criteria for the use of biomass under the renewable heat incentive and the renewables obligation. These criteria will include a minimum greenhouse gas savings target compared to fossil fuel use, and criteria to protect land with high carbon stock or biodiversity value.
	The UK Bioenergy Strategy, its underpinning research and details of our biomass sustainability criteria proposals are available from the
	www.gov.uk
	website.

Biofuels

Alun Cairns: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether roundwood biofuels count towards the EU 2020 emissions targets.

Gregory Barker: The word “biofuel” is usually applied to liquid or gaseous forms of bioenergy used for transport fuels. “Bioenergy” is typically used to refer to energy generation from all forms of biomass (solid, liquid and gas).
	With respect to biofuels, the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED) encourages the use of such fuels, including those based on wood, but also requires these fuels to deliver net greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions (ie that any emissions of GHGs associated with production are outweighed by the emissions reductions provided by consumption). The plant for producing transport biofuels from wood is largely at pilot stage and currently the contribution made by biofuels from wood is negligible within the EU.
	Under the second commitment period of the Kyoto protocol, emissions of carbon dioxide from biogenic carbon due to the consumption of bioenergy are counted as zero. land use, land-use change and forestry rules, agreed for at the conference of the parties to the Kyoto protocol held in Durban in 2011 set out the accounting of emissions from harvesting of wood.

Coal Fired Power Stations

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether the development of clean coal technology is an integral part of UK Government energy policy.

John Hayes: The coalition agreement and recent mid-term review commit us to public sector investment in carbon capture and storage (CCS). This development of this technology provides an opportunity for clean coal to be part of the future generating resource. The Government set out its approach to supporting CCS in a roadmap published in April 2012. Central to this was the £1 billion CCS competition. We are making good progress with this and have shortlisted three coal projects, with a target of supported projects being operational between 2016 and 2020.

Electricity

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he plans to take to assist small electricity suppliers with research and development costs.

John Hayes: Small electricity suppliers falling within the definition of small and medium enterprises (a company or organisation with fewer than 500 employees and either an annual turnover not exceeding €100 million or a balance sheet not exceeding €86 million) can already benefit from the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Scheme which provides research and development relief for corporation tax. This provides tax relief on allowable research and development costs of 225%—that is, for each £100 of qualifying costs, a company or organisation could have the income on which corporation tax is paid reduced by an additional £125 on top of the £100 spent.
	Any changes to tax relief allowances would be a matter for HM Treasury.

Electricity

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on encouraging local authorities to use small electricity suppliers.

John Hayes: The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), has not held any discussions with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), on this matter. It would not be appropriate for the Government to seek to influence local authorities in their choice of supplier. It is for them to decide which supplier offers the best value.
	The retail electricity market is a competitive market. The Government is working with Ofgem to ensure that barriers to entry and growth are minimised and that small electricity suppliers can compete on a level playing field with large established suppliers.
	We have increased the threshold at which suppliers are required to participate in Government environmental and social schemes from 50,000 customers to 250,000 customers.
	Other initiatives are also under way that should help small suppliers. Ofgem is taking forward proposals to address the low levels of liquidity in the wholesale electricity market and Government is seeking backstop powers to address low liquidity should Ofgem and industry efforts not deliver adequate improvements. Government is also looking at other barriers including how independent participants secure long-term contracts that allow them to finance projects.

Electricity

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on reducing tax burdens on small electricity suppliers.

John Hayes: Tax is a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the right hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr Davey), has held no discussions with him regarding the tax burdens on small electricity suppliers.
	The Government is working with Ofgem to ensure that barriers to entry and growth are minimised and that small electricity suppliers can compete on a level playing field with large established suppliers.
	We have increased the threshold at which suppliers are required to participate in Government environmental and social schemes from 50,000 customers to 250,000 customers.
	Other initiatives are also under way that should help small suppliers. Ofgem is taking forward proposals to address the low levels of liquidity in the wholesale electricity market and Government is seeking backstop powers to address low liquidity should Ofgem and industry efforts not deliver adequate improvements. Government is also looking at other barriers including how independent participants secure long-term contracts that allow them to finance projects.

Energy: Billing

Alec Shelbrooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to ensure that energy companies do not continually roll over energy contracts.

John Hayes: It is for the independent regulator, Ofgem, to consider whether the existing licence condition governing the use of roll over contracts offers adequate protection to business customers.
	Ofgem recently consulted on a proposal requiring the contract end date and last date of termination should be printed clearly on business customer bills, as part of their retail market review. The aim of the proposal is to make small businesses more aware of when their contract is coming up for renewal, and reduce the likelihood of automatic roll over. Ofgem are also committed to review the roll over contract arrangements immediately after they have concluded their consultation on retail market review.

Energy: Conservation

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what discussions Ministers in his Department have had with the European Commission on the level of VAT levied on energy saving materials being subject to a reduced VAT rate; and on what dates any such meetings took place;
	(2)  when he expects the EU Court of Justice to make a ruling on whether the UK can continue to tax energy efficient products at a lower rate of VAT;
	(3)  what estimate his Department has made of the effect on the level of Green Deal take-up of energy saving materials being subject to a VAT rate of 20 per cent.

Gregory Barker: Treasury Ministers have been leading on responses to communications from the European Commission on the UK's reduced rate of VAT on the installation of energy saving materials for HMG. This is an important issue for social policy—driving a reductions in costs for households and stimulating economic growth.
	The Government disagrees with the European Commission's view that the current reduced rate of 5% VAT for the installation of energy saving materials in residential properties is unlawful and the UK has been referred to the European Court of Justice, which is the final stage of the infraction proceedings. Current assessments suggest that the earliest the case will be heard is towards the end of 2013, and were any changes required—which the Government strongly contests—it would be necessary to consider carefully what they should be in the light of the Court's judgment.

Energy: Finance

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which projects were successful in applying for Government funding under the Cheaper Energy Together collective switching scheme.

Gregory Barker: A list of successful applicants for the Cheaper Energy Together funding, including the collective switching scheme, is available from the Government website at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/68859/7473-decc-local-authority-competition-201213-projects-.pdf

Energy: Prices

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the Electricity Directive 2009/72/EC and the Gas Directive 2009/73/EC on end user price controls in the energy market.

John Hayes: I have made no such assessment. The UK is one of the nine member states which have no end user price controls.
	However, the Commission reported in its Communication on making the internal energy market work, published in November 2012, that the majority of member states still intervene in some form in retail price formation. The Commission stated that price regulation does not provide the right incentives for efficient investment or energy use and is not conducive to the development of a competitive market. It is therefore insisting on phase-out programmes for regulated prices as part of member states' structural reforms and taking infringement action where price regulation does not meet the conditions laid down by EU law.

Fluidised Bed Combustion

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the use of fluidised bed combustion technology for the production of energy.

Gregory Barker: DECC officials review a wide range of technologies. Fluidised bed combustion n technology has a number of applications and is a technology currently used in production of energy from solid fuels such as coal and solid wastes. It is also one of the technologies being researched for production of liquid fuels from by pyrolysis under the DECC sponsored pyrolysis challenge programme.

Fuel Poverty

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he plans to take to engage (a) communities and (b) community energy suppliers to lift people out of fuel poverty.

Gregory Barker: Through the energy company obligation (ECO), energy suppliers are required to assist low income, vulnerable households through the installation of basic heating and insulation measures. This month DECC is launching the ECO roadshow which will cover seven different cities across Great Britain and will focus on the building of community delivery partnerships for the scheme.
	DECC recently offered English local authorities the opportunity to bid for up to £31 million of funding to reduce the extent of fuel poverty in their area, primarily through the provision of support for improvements to the thermal efficiency of dwellings. The competition is currently delivering 60 projects across 169 local authority areas in England, and a number of these projects are working in partnership with community groups.
	The Department of Health's Cold Weather Plan 2012 places a high priority on the engagement of the local community and voluntary sector in delivery aspects of the plan. DECC has supported delivery of the Warm Homes Healthy People fund, which is an integral part of the plan that encourages local authorities to work with voluntary and community sector organisations in their local communities to reduce levels of death and illness due to the effects of cold weather.
	DECC is currently scoping a Community Energy Strategy and will publish a Call for Evidence in the spring. This will cover aspects of community-led approaches across a broad range of activities that meet DECC objectives, including those on fuel poverty. We will be engaging widely with stakeholders during the run up to, launch and throughout the consultation period.

Green Deal Scheme

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the effect on the saleability of a property of having a Green Deal loan attached.

Gregory Barker: Many factors could potentially affect house prices including the cost of heating an inefficient property compared to an improved home. We have not yet made any assessment of whether the Green Deal has had any positive or negative effect of saleability of properties as the Green Deal market is too new to assess this.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects to reply to the letter of 16 January 2013 from the hon. Member for Walsall North on behalf of a constituent.

Gregory Barker: I have now replied to the hon. Member, and I apologise for the delay in doing so.

Nuclear Power Stations

Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the National Infrastructure Plan, published in December 2012, page 43, what work his Department has done to bring forward proposals for reform of the community benefit regime with regard to new nuclear power; and when further details of this policy will be announced.

John Hayes: The Government is currently finalising the proposals for a community benefits package for sites that host new nuclear power stations. Details of the package will be issued shortly.

Nuclear Power Stations

Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what work has been undertaken in his Department to take forward the proposals of the Science and Technology Select Committee in its report on Risk Perception and Energy Infrastructure for the use of partnership models and community benefits in the new nuclear build process.

John Hayes: The Government is currently finalising the proposals for a community benefits package for sites that host new nuclear power stations. Details of how the package will be implemented will be issued shortly.

Ofgem

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  how many staff at Ofgem received bonuses in excess of (a) £1,420, (b) £2,000, (c) £5,000, (d) £10,000, (e) £20,000 and (f) £50,000 in 2011-12;
	(2)  how many staff employed at Ofgem received bonuses in 2011-12;
	(3)  what the (a) average and (b) total amount paid in bonuses to staff at Ofgem was in 2011-12;
	(4)  what the largest salary paid to an individual member of staff at Ofgem was in 2011-12.

John Hayes: The information requested is a matter for Ofgem. I have asked the Chief Executive of Ofgem to write to the right hon. Member and we will place a copy of his letter in the Libraries of the House.

UK Coal

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will seek assurances from UK Coal that it will continue production at Daw Mill Colliery in Warwickshire, once the fires have been extinguished.

John Hayes: This is a commercial matter for the company. The Department is keeping in close touch with the company as they assess the way forward.

UK Coal

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assistance his Department is giving to UK Coal to restructure its business and safeguard jobs in the deep mine coal industry.

John Hayes: We are actively engaged to help the company find a way forward, and I met with them today to take stock. We are fully committed to exploring every avenue we can to assist.
	In the meantime, officials have maintained a full and ongoing dialogue with the company since the incident occurred on 22 February 2013 with a dedicated team in DECC and cross Whitehall co-ordination activated involving the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the Shareholder Executive, the Department for Work and Pensions (Jobcentre Plus), the Health and Safety Executive, the Coal Authority and Her Majesty’s Treasury.
	In addition to the work being undertaken by the Government, UK Coal is also closely engaged with its trade unions, suppliers, customers and insurers and I hope these talks can help identify constructive and pragmatic solutions to the issues faced by the firm.

UK Coal

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assistance the Government is giving to UK Coal to tackle the serious fire underground at Daw Mill Colliery in Warwickshire.

John Hayes: We have received assurances from the company that all the necessary actions are being taken to suppress the fire and extinguish it as quickly as possible. The Health and Safety Executive started an investigation soon after being notified of the situation by the company and a principal specialist inspector visited the site last week.

Warm Front Scheme

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many households in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK have received help from the Warm Front scheme in each year since its inception.

Gregory Barker: The number of households assisted through the Warm Front scheme in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) England is presented in the following table:
	
		
			 Assisted Households 2005-06(1) 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 Total 
			 Jarrow 320 386 679 417 356 495 60 59 2,772 
			 South Tyneside 558 775 1,146 825 719 886 171 134 5,214 
			 North East England 7,203 20,354 18,747 13,801 12,277 11,671 2,737 2,192 88,982 
			 England(2) 114,595 253,079 268,900 233,594 212,963 127,930 33,058 26,240 127,0359 
			 (1) Data is not available prior to 2005-06 (2) The Warm Front scheme is available in England only.

Warm Front Scheme

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the average level of grant provided to households in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK under the Warm Front scheme was in each year since its inception.

Gregory Barker: The average grant provided to households assisted through the Warm Front scheme in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) England is set out in the following table:
	
		
			 £ 
			 Average spend(1) 2005-06(2) 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 Total 
			 Jarrow 608.36 868.96 1,063.94 1,898.14 1,740.94 1,236.88 2,851.46 1,379.60 1,272.93 
			 South Tyneside 788.05 1,184.20 1,248.97 2,011.61 1,880.36 1,616.04 2,829.23 1,134.25 1,509.01 
			 North East England 1,112.58 850.16 1,291.51 1,960.04 1,389.29 1,255.10 2,654.03 999.15 1,323.18 
			 England(3) 1,634.33 1,236.71 1,313.78 1,709.73 1,638.71 3,180.28 3,267.52 1,672.37 1,563.58 
			 (1) The average grant is calculated by dividing expenditure by the number of households assisted. The variation in average grant levels between years, particularly 2011-12, is due to customers applying in one scheme year but being assisted in the following year. The average grant is also affected by the mix of measures installed and their associated costs. (2) Data is not available prior to 2005-06. (3) The Warm Front scheme is available in England only.

TREASURY

Bank Services

Andrea Leadsom: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to introduce bank account number portability in this Parliament in order to stimulate challenger banks, broader access to finance and as an effective means of resolving a future bank failure.

Greg Clark: The Government is committed to a competitive banking sector that delivers good results for customers and for the economy.
	The Government has announced that it will consult shortly after Budget on introducing regulatory powers over payment systems, in order to increase the degree of competition in the sector.

Credit Unions

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many credit unions in the UK have failed since 1 January 2011.

Sajid Javid: 15 credit unions have failed and been referred to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) since 1 January 2011. A list of these is available on the FSCS website.

Income Tax

Robert Halfon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received supporting the introduction of the 10p rate of income tax; and if he will make a statement.

David Gauke: The Government receives numerous representations from stakeholders and considers them as part of the annual Budget process.

Income Tax

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps HM Revenue and Customs is taking with the financial services industry to improve the operation of the R85 procedure allowing people who do not pay income tax to pay a lower rate on their savings.

David Gauke: Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs is working with the British Bankers Association and the Building Societies Association to ensure that eligible savers are able to benefit from receiving interest without the deduction of tax through the R85 procedure. This is in addition to the help and guidance HMRC already provides for savers through its website and contact centres.

Individual Savings Accounts

James Duddridge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans the Government has to enhance ISAs for savers; and if he will make a statement.

Sajid Javid: The Government recognises the importance of savings and of ISAs as a popular and accessible savings vehicle. For the year 2009-10, just under 24 million people (around half of the over-16 population) had an ISA.
	The Government has protected the amount people can save annually tax-free in ISAs, and ensured it is not eroded by inflation, by indexing the ISA annual subscription limits. This means that from April 2013, the overall ISA limit will rise by £240 to £11,520 and the cash limit by £120 to £5,670.

Individual Savings Accounts: Children

James Duddridge: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of rules prohibiting a child with a child trust fund from opening a junior ISA; and if he will make a statement.

Sajid Javid: The Government keeps this issue under review on an ongoing basis.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to reply to the letter dated 28 January 2013 from the hon. Member for Walsall North relating to a constituent, ref. 1/07344/2013.

Greg Clark: I have replied to the hon. Member.

Ministerial Policy Advisers

Ian Mearns: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what procedures are in place within his Department to deal with breaches of the code of conduct by special advisers.

Sajid Javid: Matters relating to special advisers are handled in accordance with the Ministerial Code, the Model Contract and Code of Conduct for Special Advisers. Disciplinary matters are dealt with in accordance with the Department’s disciplinary procedures.

Personal Savings and Mortgages

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of (a) bank and building society savers and (b) mortgage holders in the UK; and what assessment he has made of the potential effect of negative interest rates on the behaviour of savers.

David Gauke: The Government uses a range of information sources to inform its understanding of savers, mortgage holders and the size of certain population groups. However, the Government does not collect or publish its own data on the number of mortgage holders or bank and building society savers in the UK..
	Bank Rate is a macroeconomic policy tool of the independent Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) designed to affect the economy as a whole, in order to meet the 2% inflation, target over the medium term. The Committee voted to maintain Bank Rate at 0.5% at its February 2013 meeting. The MPC takes into account many factors in its policy decisions, including the prospects for households, assessments of which can be found in the Bank of England's quarterly Inflation Reports and press conferences, and the MPC's monthly meeting minutes.

Tax Avoidance

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with (a) Northumbrian Water, (b) Yorkshire Water, (c) Anglian Water, (d) Thames Water, (e) South Staffs Water and (f) Sutton and East Surrey Water, regarding tax avoidance.

David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has regular discussions with water utility companies in relation to their tax affairs, in line with its strategy for ensuring that all large businesses pay the tax they owe.
	HMRC addresses risks across different customer groups, while tailoring its approach to identify and resource those risks for each customer group in order to achieve those outcomes.
	HMRC's approach to the 2,000 largest businesses is to invest in direct engagement with them through customer relationship managers so that it has in-depth knowledge of their business model, business and tax issues, appetite for tax planning, and internal governance. HMRC's customer relationship managers are experienced tax professionals, trained to the highest levels of tax compliance, who lead teams of their most highly skilled specialists to man mark these complex and high-risk customers.

Tax Burden

Robert Halfon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how much of the average tax-burden of a working family goes towards paying for (a) welfare payments excluding the basic state pension, (b) debt interest and (c) other matters.

David Gauke: The vast majority of taxes are not hypothecated to specific expenditure and therefore making a direct connection is not possible. However, an indicative calculation can be made based on the available National Statistics releases for tax and public spending.
	The available statistics show that the average amount of income tax paid by taxpayers in the UK was £5,210(1) in 2011-12.
	Using the latest available National Statistics for spending this provides the following breakdown of how income tax funds the requested categories:
	
		
			 Expense area Amount (£) Percentage of total tax paid (%) 
			 Welfare payments (excluding pensions) 1,166.32 (22.4) 
			 Debt interest 369.91 (7.1) 
			 Other 3,673.77 (70.5) 
		
	
	(1) Taken from table 2.6 in HMRC's Income Tax Liabilities Statistics for 2010-11 to 2012-13:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/statistics/tax-statistics/liabilities.pdf

Trade: British Overseas Territories

Karl McCartney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the Priority for Action to increase trade and investment between the UK and the Territories on page 36 of the Government's White Paper entitled The Overseas Territories Security, Success and Sustainability published in June 2012, what steps the Government is taking to encourage British businesses to pursue trade and investment opportunities in the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.

Michael Fallon: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The Government recognises that there are trade and investment opportunities in the Overseas Territories (OTs) and is seeking ways to increase trade and investment activity between the UK and the OTs, with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) at the heart of this work.
	The FCO and UKTI organised a business-focused event with representatives of the OTs in December 2012; and subsequent discussions have taken place to agree practical action.
	This will include a further business event later this year, publicising trade opportunities in the OTs on the UKTI website:
	www.ukti.gov.uk
	and UKTI staff working more closely with Overseas Territory Economic Development Officers to help them take greater advantage of the sorts of services UKTI is able to provide.
	Similar discussions have been held with representatives of the Crown Dependencies.

VAT

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the average cost to each household of the increase in VAT in each year since the increase in that tax rate.

David Gauke: No estimate has been made of the average cost to each household of the increase in VAT in 2011-12. Charts A3 and A4 of Annex A of the Budget 2010 document set out the impact of the rise in the standard VAT rate and the reversal of the increase to cider duty across the expenditure distribution, in absolute terms and as a proportion of income for 2012-13. The recently published Autumn Statement 2012 also contains an “Impact on households” annex which includes an estimate of all indirect tax measures announced by the Government in 2013-14.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Argentina

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 15 January 2013, Official Report, column 644W, on Argentina, whether the UK delegation registered a vote against recent proposals for projects in Argentina proposed at the Inter-American Development Bank; and if she will make a statement.

Justine Greening: I refer the right hon. Member to my answer of 12 February 2013, Official Report, column 685W, where I have outlined this new policy.
	There have been no new loans to Argentina tabled at the Inter-American Development Bank since December 2012.

Developing Countries: Food

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions she has had with banks regarding food price speculation.

Sajid Javid: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Treasury.
	Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.
	The Treasury publishes a list of ministerial meetings with external organisations, available at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm

Developing Countries: Food

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the effect of food price speculation on world hunger; and if she will make a statement.

Justine Greening: The coalition Government recognises the damaging impact high food prices can have on poor consumers in developing countries. Our position, confirmed by the 2011 G20 Study Group report on commodities, continues to be that market fundamentals, ie supply and demand, are the main factors driving international commodity prices. However, the Government continues to monitor relevant research with interest.

Developing Countries: Health Services

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether her Department provides support to developing countries to increase the quantity of healthcare workers relative to the total population.

Lynne Featherstone: The Department for International Development (DFID) is strongly committed to strengthening health systems and to supporting health workers as part of this. Our commitment to help save the lives of at least 50,000 women during pregnancy and childbirth, and 250,000 newborn babies, needs skilled health workers in the right place at the right time.
	DFID is supporting the health work force in 28 of the countries in which we work. This support includes training new health workers; building the skills of existing health workers; working with government to strengthen health workforce planning and information. In Ethiopia, for example, DFID support is helping scale up access to health care through increasing the numbers of community health workers across the country, especially in remote areas.

Developing Countries: Poverty

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make it her policy to work with other governments and international bodies to aim to eliminate absolute poverty globally by 2025.

Justine Greening: Securing global agreement on a post-2015 development framework to eradicate extreme poverty is one of my Department's priorities. I am working with other governments and international partners to build consensus on putting poverty eradication at the heart of the new international development agenda. I took the opportunity to successfully argue for this at the European Union Informal Meeting of Development Ministers in Dublin last month.
	The Prime Minister is also using his position as co-chair the UN's High Level Panel on Post-2015 Development to secure a poverty-focused development framework. He has stressed that the framework will need set deadlines for action, and that we need to achieve poverty eradication “within our generation”.

Developing Countries: Religion

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department has taken to implement the commitment in its Faith Partnership Principles paper to build a systematic evidence base of the role that faith groups play in development.

Lynne Featherstone: The DFID “Faith Partnership Principles Paper” which aimed to strengthen and guide DFID's future relationship and collaboration with faith groups recommended that the Faith Working Group should establish a “Community of Learning” to document the effect of faith groups. A coalition of faith groups, academia and civil society organisations has established a “Joint Learning Initiative” to map the work and document the effectiveness of faith groups.
	DFID has been supportive of this coalition. DFID officials met representatives of the Joint Learning Initiative on 26 February to agree the next stage of this work.

Developing Countries: Technology

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what role the creation and dissemination of new technology plays in her Department's international development strategy; and if she will make a statement.

Lynne Featherstone: Technology has the potential to increase the impact and value for money of UK Aid; and to pull people out of poverty.
	To support this vision, the UK Government has recently launched an initiative, Making All Voices Count—a new $45 million fund (in partnership with Omidyar Network, USAID and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency—UK Aid contribution is $10m), to support the use of web and mobile technology to amplify the voices of citizens, empower citizens to bring about change, and enable governments to open up and be more transparent and more accountable to their citizens. An initiative to scale-up the use of technologies which can be used to help those hit by humanitarian crises has also been launched.

Mali

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the role investment in infrastructure in Northern Mali can play in reducing unrest; what assistance her Department is providing to the Malian government to provide such investment; and what steps she is taking to ensure that such funding is spent appropriately.

Lynne Featherstone: DFID recognises the importance of investment in infrastructure. This helps countries to develop, both through enabling growth and in the direct provision of services to vulnerable people, in support of wider peace building and state building processes. The UK is already providing lifesaving humanitarian assistance in Northern Mali, delivered through tried and trusted international humanitarian agencies. We do not give bilateral aid directly to the Government of Mali.
	In addition to our humanitarian spend, we are supporting our multilateral partners including the United Nations and the European Union in their stabilisation plans for Mali. This may include, among other measures, the development and rehabilitation of infrastructure in the north of the country. DFID will seek to ensure that such measures are conflict sensitive, and fully take the root causes of the conflict into account. The UK also welcomes the gradual resumption of EU development aid, including through the development of a State-Building Contract, and looks forward to the further discussions at the EU donor conference on 16 May on how international aid can assist the wider peace-building and stabilisation process in Mali.

Rwanda

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what criteria will be applied in deciding whether to resume aid payments to Rwanda following the Peace, Security and Co-operation Framework for the Democratic Republic of Congo and the region signed in Addis Ababa on 24 February 2013.

Lynne Featherstone: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the written ministerial statement issued by the Secretary of State for International Development, the right hon. Member for Putney (Justine Greening), on 1 March 2013, Official Report, columns 47-8WS.

Staff

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff her Department employed in each of the past five years; how many such staff were employed in London; how many such staff were employed in other regions of England; how many posts moved from London to these regions; and what steps she is taking to move her staff to regional offices.

Alan Duncan: Overall staffing figures for the Department for International Development (DFID) for the last five years, with the London component identified separately, are shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Date Total home civil servants (HCS) plus staff appointed in country overseas London based HCS 
			 31 December 2008 2,437 745 
			 31 December 2009 2,374 761 
			 31 December 2010 2,391 728 
			 31 December 2011 2,481 681 
			 31 December 2012 2,691 726 
		
	
	All DFID staff employed in England are London based.

Syria

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department has spent on each aid project it supports in Syria in each of the last three years.

Alan Duncan: The UK has so far provided a total of £139.5 million to support those affected by the crisis in Syria. £81.5 million of this was provided in the financial year 2012-13 and £58 million will be provided in the financial year 2013-14. The UK did not provide aid for Syria before 2012. This funding goes to a range of neutral and impartial humanitarian agencies including UN agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations. A breakdown of DFID's humanitarian funding for the crisis in Syria is available at:
	www.dfid.gov.uk/Syria

Written Questions

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the procedure and sign-off process for responding to parliamentary questions in her Department includes review by special advisers.

Alan Duncan: Ministers are responsible and accountable for all answers to parliamentary questions. Special advisers may provide advice to Ministers, as outlined in the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

EDUCATION

AS-levels

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for the future of AS levels; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Gove: On 23 January, I wrote to Ofqual's Chief Regulator setting out my intention to reform A levels and to retain the AS. The AS will be redesigned as a high quality, stand-alone qualification that will be as intellectually demanding as an A level, and cover half of the content.

School Exclusions

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he plans to take to improve outcomes for children who have been permanently excluded from school.

David Laws: All pupils in alternative provision, including those excluded from school, should receive an education on par with their mainstream peers to enable them to access the same opportunities. The Government has already begun introducing a number of ambitious reforms, including implementing all 28 recommendations from the Taylor review, publishing new guidance, giving providers access to the benefits of Academy status, and freeing schools from the bureaucracy that often gets in the way of improving pupil outcomes.

Autistic Children: Support

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessment he has made of the additional support needed by children on the autistic spectrum to enable them to participate in mainstream schooling.

Edward Timpson: Two thirds of children identified by schools and local authorities as being on the autistic spectrum have special educational needs (SEN) and around 60% of those with statements attend mainstream. Their statements will set out the extra support they need to be educated in the schools named on the statement.
	Children on the autistic spectrum should have their needs assessed individually so that the support they need can be arranged for them in an appropriate setting, whether that is in a mainstream or special school. The Department funds the Autism Education Trust to provide training and develop training materials to help mainstream schools meet these children’s needs. The Department will be letting a contract to provide specialist support in autism provision from April. The Autism Education Trust has put in a bid which proposes to extend their existing training programme beyond 2013, and also to expand coverage more widely throughout England and to cover early years and further education.
	Under the current SEN code of practice, pupils with SEN but without statements will be identified as being on either ‘School Action’ and ‘School Action Plus’. The Government proposes to replace these categories with a new single early years- and school-based SEN category. The aim will be to encourage schools first to adapt their core teaching to the range of needs their pupils have, including those on the autistic spectrum. However the code will also set out within this category the importance of identifying and meeting specific needs in order to support pupils to progress and the legislative duty on schools to use their best endeavours to secure special educational provision will remain.

GCSE Grade Inflation

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he plans to take to tackle grade inflation in GCSEs.

Michael Gove: We are reforming GCSEs to make them linear, with all assessments taken at the end of the course, and with internal assessment kept to a minimum. The new exams will test extended writing, have fewer bite-sized, overly structured questions, and in maths and science will have a greater emphasis on quantitative problem-solving.
	As the independent qualifications regulator, Ofqual will continue to make sure that standards are right and that reformed GCSEs are benchmarked against the best on offer in high-performing countries.

Alcoholic Drinks

Tracey Crouch: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the level of alcohol-related absenteeism in his Department; whether his Department has an (a) internal alcohol policy and (b) occupational health strategy; and if he will publish such documents.

Elizabeth Truss: The Department does not record centrally whether absences are specifically alcohol-related, and has not carried out any analysis of this type of absence.
	The Department does not have a specific internal alcohol policy but does have an internal conduct policy which gives clear guidance on standards of behaviour expected from staff. This document is available to staff on the Department's internal intranet.
	The Department's occupational health policy is published on its internal intranet. To support this the Department contracts the services of an independent occupational health provider to advise managers on how best to adopt a work focused approach to support employees experiencing health issues. Additionally the Department contracts with an employee assistance provider to provide staff with free 24 hour unlimited access for support, information and advice on a range of issues.
	A copy of the documents has been placed in the House Libraries.

Children in Care: Disability

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many (a) looked-after children and (b) children in foster care in England are classified as having a disability; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Timpson: The Department does not collect information on the disability status of looked after children.
	Information is collected on the reason why a child is looked after and in some cases a child may become looked after as a result of their disability. The following table shows the number of: (a) all children looked after at 31 March 2012; and, (b) the number of looked after children at 31 March 2012 in foster placements, by reason looked after. However, as there will be disabled children who are looked after for reasons other than their disability the figures do not show the total number of looked after children who are disabled.
	
		
			 Children looked after at 31 March by category of need(1, 2). Year ending 31 March 2012. Coverage: England 
			 Number 
			  All children looked after at 31 March 2012(3) Children looked after at 31 March 2012 placed in foster care(4) 
			 All children looked after at 31 March 67,050 50,260 
			    
			 Category of need(5)   
			 Abuse or neglect 41,790 33,050 
			 Child's disability 2,280 860 
			 Parents illness or disability 2,680 2,220 
			 Family in acute stress 6,000 4,270 
			 Family dysfunction 9,530 6,960 
			 Socially unacceptable behaviour 1,150 530 
			 Low income 120 90 
			 Absent parenting 3,490 2,270 
			 (1) Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. (2) Figures exclude children looked after under an agreed series of short-term placements. (3) All children looked after at 31 March 2012. (4) Those children looked after at 31 March 2012 whose placement on 31 March is that of foster care. (5) The most applicable category of the eight “Need Codes” at the time the child started to be looked after rather than necessarily the entire reason they are looked after. Source: SSDA903

Children: Health

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make it his policy to require Ofsted to assess the support services schools offer to children with health conditions.

David Laws: We do not intend to prescribe to Ofsted what it should and should not be assessing. We fully expect that all aspects of the services that schools provide to all the children, with or without health conditions, will be subject to appropriate scrutiny during an inspection.

Copyright

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when the Government plans to consult on recommendations of the Hargreaves Review into IP and Growth that the UK should (a) also promote at EU level an exception to support text and data analytics and (b) give a lead at EU level to develop a further copyright exception designed to build into the EU framework adaptability to new technologies;

Jo Swinson: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The Government's position on the Hargreaves proposals on text and data mining and technology neutrality is set out in its response to the Review at pages 7-8:
	http://www.ipo.gov.uk/ipresponse-full.pdf
	This builds on the evidence gathered during the Hargreaves Review of Intellectual Property and Growth. There are no plans to consult further or publish additional estimates of impact.
	The Impact Assessment for a UK-only text and data mining copyright exception for non-commercial use makes an indicative estimate of productivity gains of £124 million to £157 million per year.

Free School Meals

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to announce which recipients of universal credit will be entitled to free school meals; and for how long he plans to consult on his proposals.

David Laws: holding answer 27 February 2013
	We are working very closely with other Departments, including the Cabinet Office and the Department for Work and Pensions, to specify free school meals criteria under universal credit, while ensuring that free lunches continue to be available to the families who need them most. These discussions, which include consideration of a phased implementation timetable, are in recognition of the significant number and complexity of passported benefits across Government, most of which have different eligibility criteria.
	We will allow good time to enable schools, local authorities and children's charities to comment on our proposals before we introduce new eligibility criteria.

Primary Education: Rural Areas

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of primary school places in rural areas.

David Laws: On 1 March, I announced £1.6 billion support for local authorities to provide additional pupil places. For the first time, funding has been allocated using data at a planning area level that enables us to better identify and target specific place pressures within local authorities. Local authorities will also be required to provide details of how they have used this money to meet needs locally. I also announced the new Targeted Basic Need programme, which will provide further funding to create new schools and additional pupil places.

Pupils: Per Capita Costs

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much was spent on schools per pupil in each of the last 30 years.

David Laws: The available information on how much was spent on schools per pupil from 1992-93 to 2011-12 is contained within the following table.
	
		
			 School based expenditure per pupil from 1992-93 to 2011-12 
			  92-93 93-94 94-95 95-96 96-97 97-98 98-99 99-00 00-01 01-02 
			 Nursery education n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Primary education n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 2,007 2,212 2,483 
			 Pre-primary education and primary education 1,562 1,613 1,662 1,695 1,735 1,740 1,871 2,050 2,277 2,567 
			 Secondary education 2,258 2,242 2,273 2,298 2,346 2,363 2,450 2,612 2,828 3,154 
			 Special schools 10,062 9,077 8,725 9,161 9,653 9,829 10,112 10,896 11,861 13,029 
			 Total (including pre-primary) 1,955 1,949 1,986 2,018 2,064 2,075 2,193 2,391 2,624 2,941 
			 Total (excluding pre-primary n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 2,368 2,589 2,896 
		
	
	
		
			  02-03 03-04 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08 08-09 09-10 10-11 11-12 
			 Nursery education n/a n/a 5,972 6,569 7,124 7,877 8,754 9,235 9,757 9,411 
			 Primary education 2,530 2,755 2,914 3,152 3,356 3,578 3,778 3,916 4,039 4,126 
			 Pre-Primary education and primary education n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Secondary education 3,225 3,546 3,798 4,073 4,320 4,618 4,894 5,067 5,247 5,231 
			 Special schools 12,816 14,046 15,105 16,434 17,484 18,647 19,790 20,604 21,166 21,076 
			 Total (including pre-primary) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Total (excluding pre-primary 2,953 3,229 3,452 3,722 3,947 4,213 4,458 4,614 4,756 4,759 
			 n/a = Not applicable. Notes: 1. The data source for the information provided for 1992-99 was DCLG's RO1 form. 1999-00 saw a change in data source when the data collection moved from the RO1 to the Department for Education's section 52 (now latterly s251) out-turn tables. 2002-03 saw a further break in the time series following the introduction of Consistent Financial Reporting (CFR) and the associated restructuring of the out-turn tables. 2. School based expenditure includes only expenditure incurred directly by the schools. This includes the pay of teachers and school-based support staff, school premises costs, books and equipment, and certain other supplies and services, less any capital items funded from recurrent spending and income from sales, fees and charges and rents and rates. This excludes the central cost of support services such as home to school transport, local authority administration and the financing of capital expenditure. 3. Local government reorganisation (LGR) took place during the mid to late 1990's and those LAs that did not exist either pre or post LGR is likely to mean a further change in the time series. 4. Expenditure was not distinguished between the pre-primary and primary sectors until the inception of section 52 for financial year 1999-00. 5. School based expenditure in nursery schools was not recorded in 2002-03. 6. Figures are in cash terms.

Schools: Immigration

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the potential effect of inward migration from Romania and Bulgaria on the number of primary school pupils from 2014.

David Laws: holding answer 27 February 2013
	No separate estimate has been made of the effect of immigration from Romania and Bulgaria on the number of primary school pupils in England. The Department's national pupil projections are based on population projections from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which take into account net migration from European Union accession countries including Romania and Bulgaria.

Schools: Immigration

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Education under what responsibility local authorities are placed to confirm that parents applying for school places for their children who are immigrants from (a) other EU member states and (b) other countries are present in the UK lawfully.

David Laws: Local authorities are responsible for co-ordinating the school admission arrangements for all state funded schools within their area. Parents are asked by local authorities to complete a common application form (CAF), which enables them to express a preference for a place at any state funded school. The CAF can seek personal details such as name, address and the name, address and date of birth of the child. Where a local authority has concerns about an individual's access to public benefits, including education, they may refer the matter to the UK Border Agency.

Special Educational Needs

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education with reference to his Department's document, Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability—Progress and next steps, published in May 2012, what steps he is taking to ensure that services included in the local offer are delivered satisfactorily in a local area so that the First-tier Tribunal and others can be confident when making decisions regarding what should be included in a disabled child's education, health and social care plan.

Edward Timpson: The Children and Families Bill, introduced to Parliament in February 2013, includes proposals for local authorities in England to publish a local offer of services for children and young people with special educational needs, including those who are disabled. The local offer would enable families to see readily what they can expect from services across education, health and social care including eligibility criteria for accessing services where appropriate.
	Local authorities would be required to involve local children, young people and families when developing and reviewing their local offer and the services that are available in their area. Local authorities would be required to publish comments from children, young people and their families on the content of the local offer alongside their response to these comments and would be required to keep their local offer under review and up to date. This would enable the local authority to ensure their local offer continued to meet the needs and aspirations of local children and young people with special educational needs and their parents.
	Each service would be accountable for delivering what is set out in the local offer and if families are unhappy with what they receive or what is available they would be able to take this up with those services. The local offer would give details of how to complain about provision and about rights of appeal.
	If a local authority did not meet its statutory obligations in respect of the local offer a complaint could be made to the Local Government Ombudsman and if necessary to the Secretary of State for Education.

Special Educational Needs

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the Sixth Report of the Education Committee, Pre-legislative scrutiny: special educational needs, HC 631, what plans he has to establish a national framework for local offers.

Edward Timpson: The Children and Families Bill, introduced to Parliament in February 2013, includes proposals for local authorities in England to publish a local offer of services for children and young people with special educational needs, including those who are disabled. The local offer would enable families to see readily what they can expect from mainstream services across education, health and social care; how to access more specialist support; how decisions are made including eligibility criteria for accessing services where appropriate; and how to complain or appeal.
	Local authorities would be required to involve local children, young people and families in developing their local offer to take account of their needs and aspirations. A common framework for the local offer will be set out in regulations and the special educational needs Code of Practice. These detailed requirements will be informed by the learning and effective practice developed by the pathfinders.

Swimming

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn to swim.

Edward Timpson: The Government is committed to ensuring that swimming takes place in schools. Swimming is an important part of the national curriculum, which sets out that all pupils must be taught to swim at least 25 metres unaided, and be able to use recognised swimming strokes by the end of Key Stage 2 (age 11). It also requires that a child can demonstrate an understanding of water safety. The Secretary of State for Education, my right hon. Friend the Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), has said that swimming will remain compulsory in the national curriculum following the current review.

Teachers: Training

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to his answer of 14 February 2013, Official Report, column 802W, on Teachers: Training, what proportion of Schools Direct trainees are employed by their schools or school partnerships at the end of their training period.

David Laws: holding answer 27 February 2013
	There is no data on employment for School Direct trainees yet. The first cohort of trainees for the academic year (AY) 2012/13 will qualify in autumn 2013 and employment data will be available from summer 2014.

Teachers: Veterans

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many ex-service personnel have (a) enrolled on and (b) completed the Troops to Teachers programme to date.

David Laws: The Secretary of State for Education, the right hon. Member for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove) will be in a position to announce the new Troops to Teachers (TtT) programme within the next month. As the programme has not yet been launched, to date no ex-service personnel have enrolled on the Troops to Teachers programme.
	The DfE has worked closely to develop a coherent programme, with the wider aim of attracting high quality service leavers into schools. This has focused so far on increasing applications to existing initial teacher training (ITT) routes.
	Troops to Teachers feeds into the Military Skills and Ethos in Schools project, which aims to bring together the work that is dispersed throughout the Department in this area, including the work SkillForce is doing in the alternative provision sector.

DEFENCE

Defence

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what targets his Department set for the delivery of the measures outlined in the 2010 strategic defence and security review.

Philip Hammond: holding answer 28 February 2013
	Strategic defence and security review (SDSR) implementation targets are set out in the Ministry of Defence business plan
	https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/27185/mod_plan_final_11_06_12_P1.pdf
	Progress is reported monthly on the No. 10 website
	http://transparency.number10.gov.uk/
	and in the Prime Minister's annual report to Parliament on progress in implementing the national security strategy and strategic defence and security review. The second annual report was presented on 29 November 2012, Official Report, columns 26-28WS.

Defence Support Group

Alison Seabeck: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the budget was of the Defence Support Group in each of the last five years; and whether the Defence Support Group has been a net (a) contributor to and (b) recipient of his Department's budget in that period.

Philip Dunne: The Defence Support Group finances its operations and delivers an annual dividend to Ministry of Defence (MOD) through the charges it levies on customers for its services. The operating costs of the trading fund, from vesting in 2008, to date are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2008-09 217 
			 2009-10 220 
			 2010-11 202 
			 2011-12 173 
			 2012-13 (1)168 
			 (1) Forecast, un-audited, operating cost figure. 
		
	
	As the Defence Support Group's only substantial customer is the armed forces, and some 99% of its annual business turnover is derived from the MOD, the trading fund is a net recipient of the MOD budget.
	We do not classify the annual dividends returned by the Defence Support Group to MOD as a contribution to the Defence budget as this is predominantly circular funding, returning to MOD.

Defence Support Group

Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what analysis his Department has made of the effect that a sale of the Defence Support Group will have on the support that that body provides to the UK’s armed forces.

Philip Dunne: Sale of the Defence Support Group (DSG) will not change its priority of supporting the armed forces. From the preparatory work that we have undertaken to date, the Ministry of Defence expects that it can achieve a sale transaction that represents overall long-term value for money for the taxpayer and maintains the quality and timeliness of DSG’s ongoing support to the armed forces.

Depleted Uranium: Scotland

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many depleted uranium rounds are planned to be test fired in the Kirkcudbright Range in Dundrennan in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014; and when each such firing is scheduled to take place.

Philip Dunne: There are no plans for any test firing of depleted uranium rounds at the Kirkcudbright Range in Dundrennan.

HMS Astute

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Tomahawk land attack missiles have been (a) successfully and (b) unsuccessfully test fired from HMS Astute to date.

Philip Dunne: To date, two Tomahawk land attack missiles have been successfully test fired from HMS Astute. No missiles have been fired unsuccessfully.

HMS Tireless

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the leak from the reactor on HMS Tireless was first discovered; for what reasons the submarine was moved through the Irish sea to Devonport from off the west coast of Scotland after discovery of the leak; whether the Government of the Republic of Ireland was informed of the problem with the submarine; what steps have been taken to rectify the problem at Devonport docks; and what estimate he has made of the cost of repairs.

Philip Dunne: A very small coolant leak, contained within the sealed reactor compartment onboard HMS Tireless, was discovered on 4 February 2013. This presents no safety risk to members of the public, the environment or the crew.
	The submarine was in international or UK territorial waters throughout her journey to Devonport, where there is a specialist submarine maintenance facility. There was no requirement to engage with or to inform the Government of the Republic of Ireland.
	Repair plans are being developed and it is too early to confirm the detail or cost.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent reports he has received on cracks in the engine blades of the Joint Strike Fighter.

Philip Dunne: The UK was informed of a crack found on AF-2's engine on 19 February 2013 through normal US/UK airworthiness channels. Beyond this initial report, the UK F35 Type Airworthiness Authority has been involved in daily reviews with US government officials to understand progress with the subsequent technical investigation.

Michael Dugher

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions Mr Michael Dugher was registered as a visitor to his Department's main building between 2006 and 2008.

Philip Dunne: holding answer 20 December 2012
	The access control records for the Ministry of Defence's Main Building show that Mr Michael Dugher was registered as a visitor on four occasions between 2006 and 2008.
	The details we hold against these four visits are:
	14 June 2006—a one day unescorted visitor pass sponsored by the Under-Secretary of State for Defence;
	20 December 2006—an escorted conference pass sponsored by the Defence Equipment Support Organisation;
	11 April 2007—a one day escorted visitor pass sponsored by the Defence Commercial Directorate;
	3 July 2007—a one day escorted visitor pass sponsored by the Secretary of State for Defence.

Military Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which air assets are equipped with Link 16 communications equipment.

Philip Dunne: The following Ministry of Defence (MOD) air platforms have Link 16 communications equipment fitted:
	Typhoon
	Tornado GR4 (currently being fitted)
	Sentinel
	Sentry
	VC-10
	TriStar
	Hercules C-130K
	Sea King Mk7.
	The MOD also has plans to fit Link 16 on the following air platforms:
	Hercules C-130J
	Airseeker
	ATLAS.

RFA Fort Austin

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of refitting RFA Fort Austin; and when that vessel will re-enter service.

Philip Dunne: The final cost of refitting Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Fort Austin is in the process of being assessed but is expected to be around £40 million, RFA Fort Austin re-entered service in December 2012.

Security

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  on what dates security passes to his Department were removed or cancelled for (a) General Sir Charles Guthrie, (b) Admiral Sir Jonathon Band and (c) Admiral Sir Alan West;
	(2)  on what dates security passes to his Department were removed or cancelled for (a) General Sir Mike Jackson, (b) General Sir Richard Dannatt and (c) General Sir Michael Walker;
	(3)  on what dates Ministry of Defence security passes were removed from or cancelled for (a) Admiral Sir Nigel Essenhigh, (b) Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy and (c) Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire.

Philip Dunne: holding answer 20 December 2012
	The access control system for the Ministry of Defence Main Building holds data from 2004. No data is available for when General Sir Charles Guthrie's pass was removed or cancelled as he retired in 2001. Admiral Sir Jonathon Band's pass was cancelled on 4 June 2010. Admiral Sir Alan West's pass expired on 30 April 2006.
	General Sir Mike Jackson's pass expired on 30 September 2007. General Sir Richard Dannatt's pass was cancelled on 28 August 2009. General Sir Michael Walker's pass was cancelled on 13 November 2007.
	No data is available for when Admiral Sir Nigel Essenhigh's pass was removed or cancelled as he retired in 2002. Air Chief Marshal Sir Glen Torpy's pass remains active, sponsored by the Chief of the Air Staff, and will be regularly reviewed following the recent review into pass access. Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire's pass expired on 30 April 2008.

Submarines

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what further contracts under the Submarine Enterprise Performance Programme will be signed with tier one companies; when any such contracts will be signed; and what estimate he has made of the value of each contract.

Philip Dunne: I refer the hon. Member to the statement I made on 13 February 2013, Official Report, column 44WS.
	Contract negotiations with BAE Systems Maritime—Submarines and Babcock Marine are currently under way, with signatures due later this year. I am withholding further information, including those on the estimated values, as its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests.

Tankers

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of when the first Tide tanker will be in service.

Philip Dunne: On current plans the first Tide Class Tanker, Royal Fleet Auxiliary Tidespring, will enter service in 2016.

Unmanned Aerial and Marine Vehicles

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the potential of (a) unmanned underwater vehicles and (b) unmanned aerial vehicles for maritime reconnaissance.

Philip Dunne: I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by the previous Minister of State for the Armed Forces, the hon. Member for North Devon (Sir Nick Harvey) who, while giving evidence to the House of Commons Defence Committee (HCDC) on maritime surveillance on 23 May 2012, stated that the Ministry of Defence (MOD) intends to explore fully all options and alternatives for providing maritime surveillance which will include unmanned underwater and aerial vehicles.
	Trials of unmanned systems and the Air ISTAR Optimisation Study (AIOS) will be part of that work and an update will be provided to the HCDC on the initial findings of the AIOS and other significant developments in maritime surveillance in the summer of 2013, with a further update in the summer of 2014 when the AIOS is complete.
	The Royal Navy is developing a maritime unmanned aerial strategy to link into the wider Defence efforts in this area and lever efficiencies which will be completed in the summer of 2013.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Black Hornet unmanned aerial vehicle systems have been purchased; and what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of such purchases.

Philip Dunne: A total of 162 Black Hornet systems have been purchased for £20 million, including support costs.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) type, (b) circular error probability and (c) blast radius is of each variant of the Hellfire precision guided missile employed by the UK Reaper remotely piloted air system; and if he will make a statement.

Philip Dunne: holding answer 17 December 2012
	I am withholding the information requested as its release would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

Warships

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the current value of (a) HMS Illustrious, (b) HMS Ocean and (c) HMS Albion.

Philip Dunne: The current values are shown in the following table. The values quoted reflect the net book value (NBV) of the asset, which is calculated by adding the cost of any major upgrades to the original capital cost of the asset and deducting depreciation.
	
		
			 Name Net book value (£ million) 
			 HMS Illustrious 40 
			 HMS Ocean 90 
			 HMS Albion 290 
		
	
	The figures shown bear no relation to the replacement costs of the assets and capabilities.

Warships

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the current value of (a) HMS Protector, (b) HMS Echo, (c) HMS Enterprise, (d) HMS Scott, (e) HMS Endurance and (f) HMS Gleaner.

Philip Dunne: The current values of the Royal Navy vessels are shown in the following table. The values quoted reflect the net book value (NBV) of the asset, which is calculated by adding the cost of any major upgrades to the original capital cost of the asset and deducting depreciation.
	
		
			 Name NBV (£ million) 
			 HMS Protector (1)— 
			 HMS Echo 24 
			 HMS Enterprise 25 
			 HMS Scott 31 
			 HMS Endurance 2 
			 HMS Gleaner (2)0 
			 (1 )HMS Protector is not owned by the Ministry of Defence (MOD). It is operated under a lease arrangement and is not therefore recorded as an asset on the MOD balance sheet. No NBV is available. (2) HMS Gleaner has a current NBV of some £80,000 but, for consistency with the approach taken to rounding the other figures, her NBV is shown as zero. Note: 1. The NBVs shown above are all rounded to the nearest £ million. 
		
	
	The figures shown in the table bear no relation to the replacement costs of the assets and capabilities.

HEALTH

Abortion

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether any requirement is placed on doctors who have reached an opinion that the grounds for abortion under section 1(1)(a) or 1(1)(b) of the Abortion Act 1967 have been met to record on the abortion notification form or patient’s notes the basis on which they reached that conclusion.

Anna Soubry: The law states that, except in emergencies, two doctors must certify that in their opinion a request for an abortion meets at least one and the same grounds set out in the 1967 Abortion Act. They must be able to certify that they agree for the abortion to go ahead given the information that they have about the woman’s circumstances. There is no requirement under the Act or regulations to record the basis on which their opinions have been reached.
	If there is evidence that a certifying doctor has not formed an opinion in good faith, then the doctor performing the termination is not protected by the Act and has potentially committed a criminal offence by terminating the pregnancy. The doctors involved may also be acting contrary to their professional duties.

Abortion

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 12 February 2013, House of Lords, Official Report, column WA135, on abortion, if he will obtain data compiled by Eurocat on misreporting of grounds for abortion.

Anna Soubry: Eurocat collect and publish data on all congenital abnormalities suspected prenatally. Notifications of abortions for foetal abnormality submitted to the chief medical officer record the principal medical condition for the termination. The data are therefore not comparable and Eurocat issued a statement in February stating that their data had been interpreted incorrectly.

Abortion

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2013, House of Lords, Official Report, column WA185, on abortion, upon what evidence the statement that in practice most abortion services have a policy that all women should be seen on their own at some stage to ensure there is no coercion or other issue affecting their decision is based; and what inspections are undertaken by his Department to ensure that such a policy is implemented.

Anna Soubry: The Government does not collect data on whether a woman is seen on her own prior to a termination of pregnancy but we know that the two main independent sector providers, the British Pregnancy Advisory Service and Marie Stopes International, both have policies and protocols in place that state that a woman must always be seen on her own to establish that she is consenting to the termination of her own free will. In addition, this provides the opportunity to discuss any other relevant issues without a partner or family member present. Officials from the Department have visited a number of services that provide termination of pregnancy and the national health service hospitals which have been visited have similar policies in place.

Abortion: Lancashire

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which (a) NHS hospitals, (b) clinics and (c) surgeries in Lancashire provide abortions; and how many abortions were carried out at each such location in 2012.

Anna Soubry: Abortion data is published annually. Data for 2012 will be available in May 2013. Data for 2011 is set out in the following table; there were no abortions carried out in surgeries.
	
		
			 Abortions performed in Lancashire, 2011 
			  Number 
			 NHS hospitals  
			 Blackpool Victoria Hospital 47 
			 Burnley General Hospital 1,562 
			 Fairfield General Hospital 109 
			 Furness General Hospital 168 
			 Ormskirk and District General Hospital 341 
			 Preston Hall Hospital 24 
			 Rochdale Infirmary 215 
			 Royal Blackburn Infirmary 2 
			 Royal Lancaster Infirmary 212 
			 Royal Preston Hospital 34 
			 Southport and Formby District General Hospital 3 
			 Westmorland General Hospital 74 
			 Total NHS 2,791 
			   
			 Independent clinics  
			 Marie Stopes International, Preston 730 
			   
			 Total 3,521

Care Homes: Fees and Charges

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 30 January 2013, Official Report, column 839W, on care homes: fees and charges, whether his Department has received any reports of care trusts not fulfilling their obligations under the National Framework for NHS Continuing Care and NHS-funded Nursing Care.

Norman Lamb: The NHS Continuing Healthcare (Responsibilities) Directions 2009 and the National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care set out the roles and responsibilities for primary care trusts in respect of these care packages.
	The Department receives correspondence from time to time with regards to implementation of the National Framework locally. Strategic health authorities are responsible for overseeing the implementation of the National Framework at a local level.

Care Quality Commission

Mark Hendrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the budget was for the Care Quality Commission in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012; how many inspections were carried out by the commission in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011 and (iii) 2012; and what the corresponding figures will be for 2013.

Norman Lamb: The Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) total grant in aid budget from the Department of Health for the financial year 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 £ 
			  Revenue Capital Total 
			 2010-11 93,733,000 15,000,000 108,733,000 
			 2011-12 72,211,000 13,100,000 85,311,000 
			 2012-13 72,030,000 12,000,000 84,030,000 
		
	
	The CQC has provided the following information about the number of inspections it has carried out.
	
		
			 Calendar year Number of inspections 
			 2009-10 15,408 
			 2010-11 7,271 
			 2011-12 18,858 
			 Note: Data taken at 27 February 2013. 
		
	
	The number of inspections anticipated for 2012-13 as at 27 February is 28,542. This number may change if, for example, locations are deregistered.
	There are three types of inspections:
	(i) Scheduled: unannounced inspections which focus on a minimum of five of the essential standards of quality and safety.
	(ii) Responsive: unannounced inspections which are carried out where there are concerns about poor care.
	(iii) Themed: inspections which focus on specific standards or types of care services.
	Non compliance is followed up with either a follow-up inspection or a desk-based follow-up review.
	The CQC is currently preparing its business plan in light of the recent strategy consultation which considers frequency of inspections to all regulated providers. The CQC will publish in April the inspection delivery plans but anticipate volumes of inspections in 2013-14 to be broadly in line with the 2012-13 business year.

Childbirth

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 25 February 2013, House of Lords, Official Report, column WA183, on abortion, for what reasons he does not consider it to be in the public interest to disclose the countries of origin of mothers among whom birth ratios exhibit gender imbalances.

Anna Soubry: The Department is carrying out further analysis of data. We do not consider it is in the public interest to disclose details of the countries in question while this analysis is under way as it is not currently possible to conclude that these variations are the result of intervention rather than natural variation. This further analysis will be completed shortly and we will announce our findings.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration his Department has given to and what discussions officials of his Department have had with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on issuing separate clinical guidelines for myalgic encephalomyelitis and for other fatiguing disorders set out in the World Health Organisation classification system.

Norman Lamb: We have had no such discussions.
	The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published its clinical guideline on the diagnosis and management of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy) in adults and children in August 2007. NICE periodically reviews its published guidance in order to take account of the latest available evidence.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis have been prevented from being tissue donors since 2007; and for what reasons recipients of tissue donations from such patients are deemed to be at risk.

Anna Soubry: I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer I gave him on 27 November 2012, Official Report, column 210W.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  on what (a) advice and (b) evidential basis his Department defines myalgic encephalomyelitis as a psychological condition;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the findings of the PACE trial relating to the effectiveness of (a) cognitive behavioural therapy and (b) graded exercise therapy for people with myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Norman Lamb: The Department considers the condition chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis to be a neurological condition of unknown origin.
	We have not carried out any specific assessment of the findings of the PACE trial.
	The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) supports clinical decision-making in the national health service by developing guidance and recommendations on the effectiveness of treatments. NICE routinely reviews the need to update its guidance in order to take account of the latest available evidence. As an independent body, NICE is responsible for assessing which evidence should be considered as part of this process.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions officials of his Department have had with the Medical Research Council on the possibility of conducting further research to evaluate the outcomes of studies which have reported evidence of the presence of retroviruses in patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Norman Lamb: Officials have had no discussions.
	The Medical Research Council funds (MRC) funds medical research in the field of medical science by awarding grants to research organisations.
	Research organisations may submit unsolicited research proposals at any time in any field of research relevant to the MRC's remit. In addition, research organisations can submit proposals in response to calls for proposals and highlight notices, which focus on key strategic areas.
	Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis is currently a highlighted area and a high priority for the MRC and the Council has implemented a number of initiatives to stimulate high quality research in this area. The MRC is independent in its choice of which research to support.

Chronic Illnesses

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department (a) has conducted and (b) holds on the effect of long-term prescription medications for management of chronic pain impairment; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Lamb: Adequate pain relief is an important part of the treatment and support needed for people with chronic pain. Prescribers are well aware of the risks of side effects and addiction associated with long-term use of some analgesic medicines, and information is readily available from standard sources such as the British National Formulary, ‘Clinical Knowledge Summaries’, and the Summary of Product Characteristics and patient information leaflets of individual medicines. The clinical guideline on the management of low back pain from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence draws particular attention to the risk of opioid dependence and other side effects. Systematic reviews produced by the Cochrane Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care Group, including reviews of pharmacological therapies for the management of chronic pain, are available on the group's website at:
	http://papas.cochrane.org

Coronavirus

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of potential risk of a coronovirus outbreak to the UK population.

Daniel Poulter: Coronaviruses have been associated for many years with outbreaks and sporadic cases of the common cold during winter and early spring every year. These viruses cause mild upper respiratory tract symptoms and rarely require hospitalisation.
	Over the last 10 years, other coronaviruses have emerged which may be associated with severe symptoms and death. The most recent of these was first detected in September 2012 and is commonly known as novel coronavirus (nCoV). The procedures for assessing the potential risk of outbreaks of this virus follow the pattern established to assess any potential outbreak of serious respiratory infection.
	The assessment of risk of an nCoV outbreak to the United Kingdom population was last reviewed on 18 February 2013. This is based on ongoing review of the emerging evidence in the UK and worldwide by the Health Protection Agency.
	The risk to UK residents of contracting this infection in the UK is very low.
	The risk to UK residents travelling to the middle east is very low and does not warrant a change to current travel advice.
	The risk of coronavirus infection to residents of, or recent visitors to, the middle east who are investigated in the UK with an unexplained severe acute respiratory illness also remains very low, but warrants investigation for coronavirus infection.
	The risk of contacts of confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection is still generally considered to be low but emerging evidence suggests there may be specific circumstances where transmission may be more likely.

Croydon University Hospital

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions his Department has had with the Care Quality Commission and NHS London on the abnormally high mortality rate at Croydon University Hospital in 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: This is a matter for Croydon Health Services NHS Trust. We are advised that NHS London investigated mortality rates at the trust during the specified period when concerns were first raised. We expect the trust to continue to work with the Care Quality Commission and, where appropriate, the NHS Commissioning Board to address concerns with regard to any aspect of its performance.

Diabetes: Children

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children in the UK have diabetes; and what estimate he has made of the proportion of such children whose diabetes is inadequately managed.

Anna Soubry: Data on recommended care processes relating to infants, children and young people with diabetes in England and Wales was published by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) in the National Paediatric Diabetes Annual Report 2010-11.
	The National Paediatric Diabetes Audit (NPDA) 2010-11 identified 23,516 infants, children and young people (to age 25) in England and Wales as registered with diabetes. The vast majority of infants, children and young people have type 1 diabetes, although there is considerable variability across regions in England.
	The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends that infants, children and young people should receive eight essential health care processes from the age of 12 (a smoking review is not recommended). Only 5.8% of eligible infants, children and young people included in the NPDA were recorded as having received all eight NICE recommended care processes in 2010-11. No assessment has been made of the accuracy of this figure.
	For patients under 12 years of age, ‘all care processes’ is defined as HbA1c only, as the other care processes are not recommended in the NICE guidelines for this age group.
	The NPDA report, which was published in September 2012, describes data collected by 178 paediatric diabetes units over a 12-month audit period of 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011. These returns related to 16,444 (i.e. 70% of the 23,516) infants, children and young people under the age of 25 years registered with diabetes and with a valid age attached to their record.
	The measurement of HbAIc gives an indication of whether diabetes is being managed adequately. Over 85% of the infants, children and young people diagnosed before 2011 had their HbA1c measured; but only 16.4% of males and 15.1% of females achieved the NICE recommended HbA1c target of less than 7.5%. This proportion has increased from 14.5% in 2009-10. Nearly one third of infants, children and young people had an unacceptable HbA1c of less than 9.5%.
	To encourage rapid improvement in performance, the Department has introduced a best practice paediatric diabetes tariff that will become mandatory from April 2013. This is expected to reflect positively on the number of young patients who receive care as recommended by NICE.

Doctors: Qualifications

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reports he has received that the examining body responsible for marking the situational judgment tests taken by final year medical students, the UK Foundation Programme Office, has made a significant error in the marking process and has had to withdraw all job offers made to final year students.

Daniel Poulter: The Department has been kept fully informed of this issue by the UK Foundation Programme Office including the commitment that job allocations will be confirmed and available to final year medical students by 8 March.

Doctors: Qualifications

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will meet representatives of the (a) UK Foundation Programme Office and (b) British Medical Association to discuss the error in the marking process of final year medical students' situational judgment examinations to discuss steps to ensure that a similar occurrence does not happen again and to minimise uncertainty over job region allocations.

Daniel Poulter: The Department has been kept fully informed of this issue by the UK Foundation Programme Office. The UK Foundation Programme Office has also been in regular contact with representatives of the British Medical Association.
	The error occurred in the scanning of the students’ answers to situational judgment tests. The Medical Schools Council that contracted for this service has published an apology. Following an invitation from the Department, senior representatives of the independent Academy of Medical Royal Colleges undertook an assurance review of the process to verify the correct answers are used in the job allocation process and concluded the verification process appears comprehensive, transparent and fair. For future recruitment processes the error has been identified and can be rectified.
	Job allocations will be confirmed and available to final year medical students on Friday 8 March.

Doctors: Qualifications

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many final year medical students passed their final examinations in the last year for which figures are available; and how many F1 job placements will be available at UK hospitals in summer 2013.

Daniel Poulter: This information is not held by the Department. However, data from the UK Foundation Programme Office, that manages recruitment to the programme, show that 7,808 students have applied to the Foundation Programme from United Kingdom medical schools. The final number progressing to the Foundation Programme will depend on the number passing final examinations and the number withdrawing their applications. There are 7,727 placements available at UK hospitals in summer 2013.
	However, irrespective of this, with the support of the devolved Administrations, we are committed to ensuring that all graduates of United Kingdom medical schools receive a place on a Foundation training programme in 2013.

Drugs: Rehabilitation

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost is of a complete treatment package incorporating methadone maintenance and other substitute medications by (a) GP-shared, care-based maintenance prescribing per person in treatment, (b) a psychiatry-led service per person in treatment and (c) Drug and Alcohol Action Team.

Anna Soubry: The Government's Drug Strategy published in 2010 emphasised the need to provide individuals with services which address the needs of the whole person. During a person's process of recovery, this end-to-end support is likely to consist of a number of different elements such as community, in-patient and residential treatment and rehabilitation, and aftercare. The cost of individuals' care pathways is not collected centrally.

Health

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to announce the financial allocation to each local authority for taking over public health responsibilities.

Daniel Poulter: The financial allocation to each local authority for taking over public health responsibilities was announced on 10 January 2013. The announcement covers 2013-14 and 2014-15, giving local authorities much-needed continuity and certainty.
	These have been published together with supporting documents on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/health/2013/01/ph-grants-las/

Health Services

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to encourage GPs to identify patients most at risk of emergency hospital admission and to provide such patients with pro-active preventive case management.

Daniel Poulter: The Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF), part of the contract with general practitioners (GPs), currently contains indicators which incentivise GPs to carry out internal and peer reviews of emergency admissions, and engage with and follow three agreed care pathways in the management and treatment of patients to avoid emergency admissions.
	The Government has proposed changes to the GP contract and a stakeholder consultation has recently concluded. Under these proposals, and in addition to the QOF indicators, we would invite GPs to participate in a new Directed Enhanced Service, which would further encourage GP practices to co-ordinate and manage the care of frail older people and other high risk patients predicted to be at risk of unscheduled hospital admission.
	A decision on the changes to the GP contract will be announced shortly.

Horse Meat

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which local authorities are participating in (a) phase 1, (b) phase 2 and (c) phase 3 of the Food Standards Agency's survey testing for equine DNA.

Daniel Poulter: The local authorities taking part in phase 1 and phase 2 of the UK-wide enforcement survey of food authenticity of processed meat products for horse and pig DNA are listed as follows.
	Armagh City and District Council
	Ballymena District Council
	Bracknell Forest Council
	Cambridgeshire County Council
	Cardiff Council
	Cumbria County Council
	Derbyshire County Council
	Devon County Council
	Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council
	Edinburgh City Council
	London Borough of Enfield
	Essex County Council
	Gloucestershire County Council
	Gwynedd Council
	Hampshire County Council
	Hereford City Council
	London Borough of Hounslow
	Kent County Council
	Lancashire County Council
	Leicestershire County Council
	Newcastle Upon Tyne City Council
	Oxfordshire County Council
	South Tyneside Council
	London Borough of Southwark
	Stirling Council
	Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
	City of York Council
	Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council
	Phase 3 includes a different set of local authorities. Release of the names of these local authorities before sampling is complete may harm law enforcement interests which is the primary objective of the survey. Their names are therefore not being released until after sampling has been completed.

Horses: Slaughterhouses

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many UK abattoirs are licensed to kill horses; and how many of those are licensed to kill other livestock.

Anna Soubry: There are six UK abattoirs approved to kill horses as on 27 February 2013. Approval is currently suspended at one of these abattoirs. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Wakefield (Mary Creagh) on 27 February 2013, Official Report, column 570W, for the details of these abattoirs and the other livestock they are approved to kill.

Hospitals: Dorset

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will make representations to the Competition Commission inquiry into the proposed merger between the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals Foundation Trust and the Poole Hospital Foundation Trust on the public policy implications set out in the report on that merger by Monitor;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the report by Monitor on the proposed merger between the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals Foundation Trust and the Poole Hospital Foundation Trust.

Anna Soubry: Any NHS mergers must deliver benefits for patients. The Competition Commission's review is an independent process and it would not be appropriate for ministers to intervene in an individual case. The Department will not therefore be making any assessment of the implications of the report for its policies, and will not be making any representations to the Competition Commission.

Macular Degeneration

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the use of vitamin and mineral supplements to slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration.

Daniel Poulter: The Department's National Institute for Health Research funds the Cochrane Eyes and Vision Group. An update of the systematic review produced by this group on antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements for slowing the progression of age-related macular degeneration was published in November 2012. The review is available in the online Cochrane Library at:
	http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858. CD000254.pub3/abstract

Mayor of London

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the devolution of additional powers to the Mayor of London; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: We have no plans to devolve any powers to the Mayor of London.

Meat: Imports

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what organisms are known to exist in imported bushmeat; and what the consequences may be in terms of infection in humans.

Daniel Poulter: The advice of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) is that the most important risks to public health from illegally imported bushmeat are those associated with well known food borne pathogens such as Salmonella, rather than exotic organisms. Food borne pathogens will be destroyed by thorough cooking.
	A study commissioned by the FSA in 2005 considered the microbiological risks associated with the illegal import of bushmeat into the United Kingdom. The study concluded that the risk of food borne illnesses from consumption of bushmeat appeared to be:
	‘very low, and that the risk of food borne illnesses from cross-contamination was also minimal’.
	This study was presented to the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food who agreed with its findings.

Mental Health Services

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the existing protocols for the use of police officers to restrain mental health patients in NHS hospitals; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the use of Metropolitan Police Territorial Support Group officers within NHS mental health hospitals; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what assessment the Care Quality Commission has made of the use of police officers to restrain mental health patients; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Lamb: No assessment has been made of the use of Metropolitan Police Territorial Support Group Officers within national health service mental health hospitals. No discussions have taken place or are currently planned between the Secretary of State for Health, the right hon. Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), and the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), on the existing protocols for the use of police officers to restrain mental health patients in NHS hospitals.
	Deployment of police in mental health in-patient settings is not a routine occurrence. A police presence may be required when dealing with an extremely disturbed patient to avoid injury to the patient, staff and other patients. Police would also be involved in responding to criminal behaviours on psychiatric wards or in the management of any serious or untoward incident on the premises. We would expect any intervention of this nature to be carried out according to protocols agreed between mental health services and local police services.
	The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is currently conducting a thematic probe on the use of restrictive practices on mental health wards. The probe is being carried out by the CQC's Mental Health Act (MHA) Commissioners and includes questions on any occasion when police have been called to a ward and what they did—including involvement in restraint, as well as use of Taser, tear gas, handcuffs and tape. The field work for the probe continues till the end of March and there will be a period of analysis. The current plan is to publish the results of part of the CQC's next MHA annual report.

Methadone

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of people who are prescribed methadone are on a reducing methadone script.

Anna Soubry: This information is not collected centrally. The National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) collects information on the number of people receiving structured treatment for drug dependence in England, including substitute prescribing interventions. In accordance with National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines, to support someone's recovery from dependence, opioid substitutes may be prescribed for the purposes of stabilisation, maintenance or reducing opioid use. However, the NDTMS does not distinguish between methadone and other opioid substitutes or whether doses are rising, constant or reducing.

Ministerial Policy Advisers

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures are in place within his Department to deal with breaches of the code of conduct by special advisers.

Daniel Poulter: Matters relating to special advisers are handled in accordance with the Ministerial Code, the Model Contract and Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

Mobile Phones: Health Hazards

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has made an assessment on the potential health effects on children of the use of mobile telephones from an early age.

Anna Soubry: The Department is advised on the health effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields including mobile telephones and their associated technology by the Health Protection Agency (HPA). In April 2012 the HPA's independent Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation produced a comprehensive assessment of the evidence on the potential health effects of these fields including those to children. The report can be found at:
	www.hpa.org.uk/webw/HPAweb&HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1317133826368

National Treatment Agency

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many and what proportion of staff who previously worked for the National Treatment Agency (a) now work for and (b) are planned to move to Public Health England.

Anna Soubry: The Department does not hold records on the current employment status of staff who have left the National Treatment Agency (NTA).
	The transfer of current NTA staff to Public Health England is being conducted in line with the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice on Staff Transfers in the Public Sector 2000 (COSOP).

NHS: Innovation

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on implementing the actions set out in his Department's report, Innovation, Health and Wealth, published in December 2011.

Daniel Poulter: The NHS chief executive published “Creating Change—IHW One Year On” in December 2012 . It provides a full update on progress made with the Innovation, Health and Wealth programme. A copy has been placed in the Library and is available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/health/2012/12/ihw-creating-change/

NHS: Public Consultation

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department took account of the financial interests of respondents when assessing the results of its consultation on Securing the Best Value for Patients.

Daniel Poulter: The Department considered carefully the views and comments of all respondents to the consultation on Securing the Best Value for Patients. The Department did not ask for details of the financial interests of respondents.

NHS: Reorganisation

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether clinical commissioning groups that do not submit NHS services to open competition will be afforded protection from legal proceedings under competition law.

Daniel Poulter: As my noble Friend, Earl Howe, made clear during the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill through Parliament, there is no requirement that commissioners must competitively tender all national health service services.
	The Government's policy is for sector specific rules, enforced by a health regulator. The requirements of the section 75 regulations continue the approach put in place by the previous Administration and go no further than existing procurement law that already applies to primary care trusts, and that has been reflected in procurement guidance since 2008.

Nurses

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many specialist stoma nurses posts there were in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: The .current number of stoma specialist nurses employed by the national health service is not collected centrally.
	The Government has supported the development of a range of specialist roles within nursing. It is for local NHS organisations with their knowledge of the health care needs of their local population to invest in training for specialist skills and to deploy specialist nurses. In this context, the Government recognises that more should be done by some local health care organisations to prioritise preventative care and better support for patients in their own homes and communities. Specialist nurses can play an important role in this which can both save the NHS money and, more importantly, provide better care for patients.
	We do hold information on the number of qualified nursing, midwifery and health-visiting staff employed by the NHS, which is available from the Health and Social Care Information Centre annual workforce census, however the speciality requested is not collected separately.

Nurses

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on ensuring that (a) stoma and (b) continence patients can continue to access support and advice from specialist nurses; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: While the Government values the role of specialist nurses it has not made any assessment on their function with respect to the health outcomes for stoma and continence patients.

Nurses: Schools

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of school nurses in each of the last five years; and if will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: The annual workforce census published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre shows the number of school nurses with the post registration school nurse qualification employed by the national health service in England at 30 September each year, up to 2011. The next annual census will be published on 21 March 2013 and will provide the number of qualified school nurses employed in 2012. School nurses are employed by a variety of employers including the NHS, and state and independent schools.
	Changes to the size and shape of the workforce are the responsibility of local employers and are not to be determined centrally. Local health care organisations, with their knowledge of the patients that they serve, are best placed to plan and deliver a workforce appropriate to the needs of their patients based on clinical need and sound evidence.
	The number of qualified school nurses employed by the. NHS in England from 2007 to 2011 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			 NHS hospital and community. health services: school nurses, as at 30 September 2007-11 
			 England as at 30 September each year School nurse (Full-time equivalent) 
			 2007 892 
			 2008 1,045 
			 2009 1,167 
			 2010 1,096 
			 2011 1,165 
			 Notes: 1. Full-time equivalent figures are rounded to the nearest whole number. 2. The figures only include those school nurses directly employed by the NHS in England as we do not hold information on those school nurses directly employed by schools or local education authorities. Data Quality: The Health and Social Care Information Centre seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data but responsibility for data accuracy lies with the organisations providing the data. Methods are continually being updated to improve data quality where changes impact on figures already published. This is assessed but unless it is significant at national level figures are not changed. Impact at detailed or local level is footnoted in relevant analyses. Source: Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census

Patient Choice Schemes

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to provide NHS patients with a choice of (a) method of care and treatment and (b) different providers of such care and treatment and to ensure patients are provided with the necessary information to make those choices effectively.

Anna Soubry: Choice for national health service funded care is underpinned through the NHS constitution. This sets out a patient’s right to make choices over health care and to have access to relevant information to support that choice:
	“You have the right to make choices about your NHS care and to information to support these choices”.
	“The NHS commits to offer you easily accessible, reliable and relevant information to enable you to participate fully in your own health care decisions and to support you in making choices”.
	Choice of the method of care and treatment is a matter to be agreed through a shared decision-making process between the patient and their health care professional. More information than ever before is being made available to patients, for example, through the NHS Choices website and the newly published choice frameworks which have been designed to spell out the choices available for patients.
	For their first out-patient referral, patients have the right to choose any current provider of care in England which is appropriate. Additionally, providers of care and treatment are being extended through the Any Qualified Provider policy whereby patients can choose from a range of providers, all of whom meet NHS quality requirements, standard contract terms and conditions and price.

Patient Choice Schemes

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of appointments listed on the NHS Choose and Book website which are not actually available to book; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: Appointments that are declared available for booking by the service provider are displayed on the Choose and Book system. General information on availability for January 2013 is contained in the Monthly Appointment Slot Issues Report, which is published on the Choose and Book website (see ‘ASI Provider Report’ tab):
	www.chooseandbook.nhs.uk/staff/bau/reports/asijan2013.xls
	The report includes information on the number of instances where patients were unable to book an available appointment because the appointment has been simultaneously booked by another patient, the appointment schedule has been changed but the Choose and Book system has not been updated or where there is another technical problem making the system unavailable. In addition, the report shows instances where patients try to book appointments, but no appointment slots have been made available by the provider
	In January 2013, there were 683,136 successful bookings made directly into hospital appointments systems by Choose and Book. There were also 3,911 instances where patients were unable to book visible appointments, due to issues as described above.

Personal Independence Payment

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether clinicians performing personal independence payment (PIP) assessments will be subcontracted to NHS trusts by Atos; and what assessment he has made of the effect of clinicians conducting PIP assessments on the ability of NHS trusts to perform their clinical functions.

Norman Lamb: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 28 February 2013, Official Report, column 652W.

Phenylbutazone

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 11 February 2013, Official Report, column 521W, on horses: slaughterhouses, when the two positive phenylbutazone test results from as yet untraced horses were reported to the Food Standards Agency.

Daniel Poulter: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 11 February 2013, Official Report, column 466W, that provided information on the distribution of horsemeat from the two horses testing positive for phenylbutazone. These were for samples collected on 21 May 2012 and 10 October 2012.
	The positive samples for these two horses were reported to the Food Standards Agency on 27 June 2012 and 13 November 2012 respectively.

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial assistance his Department provides for patients with complex prescriptions when they purchase sight-correction appliances.

Daniel Poulter: Help with the cost of optical appliances for patients with complex prescriptions is available through the NHS optical voucher scheme. Complex appliances are defined as glasses at least one lens of which has power in any one meridian of plus or minus 10 or more dioptres or is a prism controlled bifocal lens.
	There are a range of values for optical vouchers according to the strength and type of the prescription. Schedule 1 to the National Health Service Optical Charges and Payments Regulations 1997 sets out the vouchers and face values available for specific prescriptions. The current values are in SI 2012 No 515, which is available at:
	www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/515/contents/made

Private Patients: Foreign Nationals

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many non-EEA overseas private patients have been treated in England in each year since 2009-10;
	(2)  how many non-EEA overseas private patients have not paid all or part of their fees owed to NHS foundation trusts in each year since 2009-10.

Daniel Poulter: The Department does not hold information about the treatment of non-EEA overseas private patients centrally. The Department expects that data about the treatment of privately-funded patients, including those from non-EEA states, would be held locally by individual health care providers.
	We understand from the chairman of Monitor that they do not collect information about the collection of fees owing to NHS foundation trusts from non-EEA overseas private patients, as this is an operational matter for the individual trusts concerned.

Royal Lancaster Infirmary

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from hon. Members on the e-petition entitled Against the removal of Accident and Emergency, Maternity and Intensive Care Units at Royal Lancaster Infirmary; and what steps he has taken in response to those representations.

Anna Soubry: On 5 and 7 February 2013, my hon. Friend the Member for Morecambe and Lunesdale (David Morris) spoke in the House about the e-petition about concerns regarding the future of the accident and emergency, maternity and intensive care units at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI). The remarks were made during parliamentary debates on health matters and were noted by Health Ministers.
	No further representations on this matter have been received by Health Ministers.
	The provision of local health services, including those provided at the RLI, is a matter for the local NHS. RLI is part of the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, and we understand that the trust is working with local commissioners to review the future of its hospital services. This work is at an early stage and no options for change have been put forward.
	We have set out strengthened criteria that NHS service changes must meet. They must demonstrate strengthened public and patient engagement; consider patient choice; have support from general practitioner commissioners; and be based on sound clinical evidence. Should proposals be put forward for significant change to services at the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, commissioners will need to be assured they meet these tests.

School Milk

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department was last assessed for compliance with the European School Milk Scheme.

Daniel Poulter: Under the European School Milk Scheme, both the claimants of European Union Subsidy and the claims that they submit are assessed for compliance in line with the EU rules. The Department was last assessed for compliance in 2010.

Self-harm: North East

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of levels of self-harm in (a) Middlesbrough, (b) Redcar and Cleveland and (c) the North East;
	(2)  with reference to the Community Mental Health Profiles 2013 published by the North East Public Health Observatory, what steps he intends to take to reduce the incidence of self-harm.

Norman Lamb: Self-harm is a major risk factor for suicide, with around half of people dying by suicide having a previous history of self-harm. This is why we highlighted self-harm in the suicide prevention strategy for England published in September 2012. The suicide prevention strategy is backed by up to £1.5 million funding for suicide prevention research. We have invited research proposals looking at a number of areas, including how to reduce the risk of suicide in people with a history of self-harm.
	In 2004 the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published a clinical guideline on self-harm. This covered the short-term physical and psychological management and secondary prevention of self-harm in primary and secondary care. It sets out the care people who harm themselves can expect to receive from health care professionals in hospital and out of hospital; the information they can expect to receive; what they can expect from treatment and what kinds of services best help people who harm themselves. Following on from this guideline, in November 2011, NICE issued a clinical practice guideline on the longer-term management of self-harm.
	In the Community Mental Health Profiles 2013 published by the North East Public Health Observatory levels of self-harm in Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland are much higher than the national average. For people who are admitted to accident and emergency with deliberate self-harm injuries, local mental health trust, Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV), provides liaison psychiatry services in all three acute hospitals in Teesside. TEWV staff work with colleagues at University Hospital of Hartlepool, University Hospital of North Tees in Stockton and James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough to assess patients with mental health problems, and help them to access the services they need.

Smoking

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the effectiveness of advertisements on encouraging people to stop smoking.

Anna Soubry: The effectiveness of the Department’s stop smoking marketing campaigns are evaluated using a range of techniques including response metrics (e.g. number of people who visit a website or order a support product), of tracking research and modelling to estimate the number of quit attempts made as a result of a campaign.
	Topline results from the Department’s stop smoking campaigns are published on the Smokefree Resource Centre at:
	www.smokefree.nhs.uk/resources/campaign

Social Services: Finance

Bob Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will bring forward proposals to apply changes in social care funding planned for 2017 retrospectively from 2012.

Norman Lamb: Subject to the passage of legislation we will introduce a system to protect people from excessive care costs in 2017—we have no plans to apply this retrospectively.
	Those who are receiving eligible care from April 2017 will qualify for state protection by way of a cap and an extended means test protecting from excessive care costs. People with care needs before April 2017 will continue to be responsible for their care costs if they can afford them.
	This is a significant funding commitment and must be balanced with other spending pressures. We believe 2017 is the right year to implement the cap—when it is both affordable and practical to do so.

Soft Drinks: Cinemas

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will bring forward legislative proposals to limit the size and availability of large soft drinks at cinemas.

Anna Soubry: Departmental officials will be meeting with cinema chains, soft drinks manufacturers and their respective trades associations to discuss what they can do to limit the size of large soft drinks at cinemas through the Public Health Responsibility Deal calorie reduction pledge. We have no current plans to legislate on the matter.

Streptococcus

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether the planned tool for use locally to audit current practice and improve implementation of the revised Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists guideline on the prevention of early-onset Group B Strep disease will include the recommendations of the guideline on antibiotics for the prevention and treatment of early onset neonatal infection issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, published in August 2012;
	(2)  which stakeholders will be involved in the development and implementation of his Department's proposed tool for local use to audit current practice and improve implementation of the revised guideline issued by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists on the prevention of early-onset group B Strep disease; and what timetable has been set for the (a) development and (b) implementation of the tool;
	(3)  what timetable his Department has set for the inclusion of group B Strep as a topic in education and continuing professional development programmes for clinicians and midwives; and which stakeholders will be involved in the (a) development and (b) implementation of relevant education materials;
	(4)  what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the recommendations in the guideline on antibiotics for the prevention and treatment of early onset neonatal infection issued by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence are implemented wherever babies are born and then cared for;
	(5)  if he will set a target for the reduction of group B streptococcal infection in newborn babies.

Daniel Poulter: No target has been set by the Department on Group B streptococcus (GBS) infection in newborn babies but we are clear about the importance of taking the right steps to prevent GBS infection at the start of life.
	National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence clinical guidelines are based on a thorough assessment of the available evidence and we expect national health service organisations to take them fully into account in their decision making, including on antibiotics for the prevention and treatment of early onset neonatal infection.
	The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists published its updated guideline on prevention of early onset neonatal GBS disease in July 2012. The updated guideline took into account new evidence on the prevention of early-onset neonatal GBS disease. It is important that services undertake local clinical audits to ensure the effective use of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis recommended by the guideline.
	Following the publication of the revised guideline, the UK National Screening Committee suggested a formal audit of practice, to establish how well the new guidance is being implemented at a national level.
	A proposal from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists for an audit, through their partnership with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, has recently been submitted to the UK National Screening Committee. If the proposal is agreed, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists will appoint a clinical research fellow to undertake the project which will take one year.
	The proposed audit will consist of a number of activities, including the development of "case vignettes", describing particular women asking clinicians to indicate whether they would screen for GBS and/or offer intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis. These vignettes would provide specific information on current policies in response to the presence or absence of particular risk factors.
	Government does not specify the content of the training curricula for doctors or midwives and other clinicians. The content and standard of medical training is the responsibility of the General Medical Council, which is the competent authority for medical training in the United Kingdom. The Nursing and Midwifery Council set standards of education, training, conduct and performance so that nurses and midwives can deliver high quality health care.
	Continuing professional development needs of doctors and midwives are determined by regulatory requirements and local NHS priorities, through appraisal processes and training needs analyses informed by Local Delivery Plans and the needs of the service.
	Health Education England has been established to provide national leadership and oversight on strategic planning and development of the health care workforce. Health Education England will work closely with the professional regulators and education institutions to ensure that curricula for the provision of education is of the highest quality, and training delivers health professionals who are fit for purpose and meet employer and patient needs. Health Education England will become fully operational in April 2013.

Telemedicine

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has held with the Department for Energy and Climate Change on the potential for smart-meter technology to assist with the provision of telecare and telehealth services.

Norman Lamb: We are not aware of any specific discussions that have taken place with officials at the Department for Energy and Climate Change about this matter.

Tobacco: Retail Trade

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the potential (a) effect on rates of smoking and (b) saving to the NHS of the introduction of standardised tobacco product packaging;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of his Department's consultation on standardised packing for tobacco products.

Anna Soubry: The Department published the “Consultation on standardised packaging of tobacco products” in April 2012. A consultation-stage impact assessment was published alongside the consultation.
	The Department received many thousands of responses to the consultation on standardised packaging of tobacco products, including standard postcard campaigns and petitions from a range of interested parties. A summary report of consultation responses will be published in due course, which will set out the numbers and categories of responses received.
	The Government has an open mind on this issue and any decisions to take further policy action on tobacco packaging will be taken only after full consideration is given to the consultation responses, evidence and other relevant information.

Transplant Surgery

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients are on organ transplant waiting lists.

Anna Soubry: The information requested can be found in the following table.
	
		
			 Number of people in the United Kingdom on organ donor waiting lists by organ as at 21 February 2013 
			 Organ Number of people on the transplant waiting list as of 21 February 2013 
			 Kidney 6,193 
			 Pancreas 41 
			 Kidney/pancreas 227 
			 Pancreas islets 29 
			 Heart 199 
			 Lung 225 
			 Heart/lung 18 
			 Liver 463 
			 Other (multi-organ) 36 
			 Total 7,431 
			 Source: NHS Blood and Transplant

Transplant Surgery

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many organ transplant patients were transferred from Scotland to England for care in each of the last four years.

Daniel Poulter: The information requested can be found in the following table:
	
		
			 Scottish residents(1) receiving a solid organ transplant in England from 1 April 2008 to 26 February 2013, by transplant type and year 
			 Transplant type 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13(2) 
			 Deceased donor kidney 0 1 1 0 0 
			 Living donor kidney 0 1 2 2 1 
			 Pancreas 1 1 0 0 0 
			 Heart 2 3 7 4 2 
			 Deceased donor lung(s) 12 13 7 8 19 
			 Deceased donor liver/lobe 4 6 4 3 0 
			 Living donor liver lobe 4 1 2 1 2 
			 Other multi organ 0 1 2 1 0 
			 Total 22 27 25 19 24 
			 (1) Area defined by the Office for National Statistics NHS Postcode Directory. (2) 2012-13 covers the period from the start of the 2012-13 financial year (1 April 2012) until 26 February 2013 Source: NHS Blood and Transplant

Working Hours

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the effect of over-working on mental and physical health.

Norman Lamb: No assessments have been made or are currently planned of the effects of over-working on mental and physical health.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Apprentices: Milton Keynes

Iain Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many apprenticeships were started in (a) the Milton Keynes unitary authority area and (b) Milton Keynes South constituency in each of the last five years.

Matthew Hancock: Information on the number of apprenticeship starts by geography is published in supplementary tables to a quarterly statistical first release (SFR), last published on 31 January 2013, available at:
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/69EFC69B-C189-46C4-93C4-6B161D744073/0/January2013_Apprenticeship_Starts.xls
	and
	http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/Statistics/fe_data_library/Apprenticeships/

Apprentices: South East

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many apprenticeships in each sector commenced in (a) Mid Sussex constituency and (b) the south-east in each of the last five years.

Matthew Hancock: Tables 1 and 2 show the number of apprenticeship starts by sector subject area in the Mid Sussex parliamentary constituency and the south-east region respectively. Data are shown for 2007/08 to 2011/12, the latest year for which full year data are available.
	
		
			 Table 1: Apprenticeship programme starts in Mid Sussex parliamentary constituency by sector subject area, 2007/08 to 2011/12 
			 Sector subject area 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 
			 Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Care 10 20 10 20 10 
			 Arts, Media and Publishing — — — — — 
			 Business, Administration and Law 60 90 40 150 160 
			 Construction, Planning and the Built Environment 30 40 30 40 30 
			 Education and Training — — — 10 10 
			 Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies 60 40 40 50 50 
			 Health, Public Services and Care 40 40 40 100 110 
			 Information and Communication Technology — — — 10 10 
			 Languages, Literature and Culture — — — — — 
			 Leisure, Travel and Tourism 30 30 30 40 50 
			 Preparation for Life and Work — — — — — 
			 Retail and Commercial Enterprise 70 90 100 110 140 
			 Science and Mathematics — — — — — 
			 Unknown — — — — — 
			 Total 310 350 300 520 580 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Apprenticeship programme starts in south-east region by sector subject area, 2007/08 to 2011/12 
			 Sector subject area 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/1 2 
			 Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Care 700 840 730 960 1,070 
			 Arts, Media and Publishing 10 — 10 90 90 
			 Business, Administration and Law 5,570 7,590 7,730 15,190 20,010 
			 Construction, Planning and the Built Environment 3,450 4,020 3,270 3,880 3,320 
			 Education and Training — 90 60 670 1,110 
			 Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies 7,850 6,340 6,690 6,740 8,460 
			 Health, Public Services and Care 4,890 4,970 6,770 12,380 13,340 
			 Information and Communication Technology 1,020 1,330 2,000 2,380 2,630 
			 Languages, Literature and Culture — — — — — 
			 Leisure, Travel and Tourism 1,060 2,030 2,290 3,280 2,710 
			 Preparation for Life and Work — — — — — 
			 Retail and Commercial Enterprise 7,180 7,820 9,580 12,790 14,070 
			 Science and Mathematics — — — — 50 
			 Unknown 420 — — — — 
			 Total 32,160 35,040 39,120 58,340 66,850 
			 Notes: 1. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10. ‘—’ indicates a value of less than five. 2. Geographic breakdowns are based upon the home postcode of the learner. 3. Figures are based on the geographic boundaries as of May 2010. Source: Individualised Learner Record

Business: Research

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to the answer of 18 April 2012, Official Report, column 381W, on business: research, by what date the Technology Strategy Board plans to publish a list of Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) contracts awarded since April 2008 in a form similar to the US Small Business Administration's TECH-Net public database of SBRI contracts including the name and address of each award winner, the name of the awarding agency, the year of award, the phase, the amount of award and project title; and what deadlines he has set for this to take place.

Michael Fallon: The Technology Strategy Board currently provides details, including the status, of all SBRI competitions launched and case studies at a dedicated section of their website:
	http://www.innovateuk.org/deliveringinnovation/smallbusinessresearchinitiative.ashx
	In addition, the Technology Strategy Board has created a searchable database which has been available since mid November 2012 at:
	https://connect.innovateuk.org/publicdata/
	This contains details of all SBRI contract recipients, where the Technology Strategy Board is the contracting authority. Where Departments manage their own competitions and are the contracting authority this information is not held by the Technology Strategy Board. The Technology Strategy Board is working with these public sector bodies to add information regarding their contracts where possible.
	The TSB is compiling a list of all SBRI contract recipients, where the Technology Strategy Board can obtain information from other public sector bodies that are the contracting authority in their SBRI competitions. This list will be published shortly.

Carbon Monoxide: Poisoning

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will bring forward legislative proposals to make it an offence for retailers to sell barbecue and camping equipment without a prominent warning on the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Michael Fallon: There are no plans for new legislation. The European Commission have put in a request for the revision of EN 1860-1 and EN 1860-2, the two standards relating to barbecues and barbecue fuel packaging, to have safety warnings in prominent positions on the barbecues themselves as well as on the packaging of the fuels and in accompanying instructions. The General Product Safety Regulations 2005 (GPSR) state only safe products can be placed onto the market, and recognise certain technical standards as carrying a presumption of conformity with the general safety requirement, meaning that products that comply with them are deemed to be safe. Local authority trading standards services are able under the GPSR to remove products they feel do not meet the basic safety requirements, which can include the lack of appropriate safety warnings.

Companies: Milton Keynes

Iain Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many new companies were registered in (a) the Milton Keynes unitary authority area and (b) Milton Keynes South constituency in each of the last five years.

Michael Fallon: Companies House estimate that the number of new companies registered in the Milton Keynes unitary authority area and Milton Keynes South constituency in each of the last five years are shown in the following tables.
	
		
			 Milton Keynes unitary authority 
			  Number 
			 2008/09 1,528 
			 2009/10 1,841 
			 2010/11 1,918 
			 2011/12 2,296 
			 2012/13 2,137 
		
	
	
		
			 Milton Keynes South constituency 
			  Number 
			 2008/09 1,345 
			 2009/10 1,672 
			 2010/11 1,796 
			 2011/12 2,156 
			 2012/13 2,016 
		
	
	These figures are estimates because Companies House data is drawn from postcode areas; and these areas can cross county and constituency boundaries.

Copyright

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the legal costs that will be incurred by businesses and other organisations as a result of courts interpreting proposed changes to copyright law.

Jo Swinson: The changes proposed to copyright legislation will be drafted as clearly as possible, and the Intellectual Property Office will issue guidance notices which, while not binding on the courts, will assist users of the copyright system to understand the new provisions.
	While legal disputes may occur following any legislative change, it is not possible to predict accurately the extent or cost of such actions, and accordingly, no such assessment has been made.

Copyright Research Expert Advisory Group

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many current members of the Copyright Research Expert Advisory Group have been commissioned by the Intellectual Property Office to provide paid research in the last three years;
	(2)  how many current members of the Copyright Research Expert Advisory Group work in a private sector business whose principal purpose is the production of copyright works.

Jo Swinson: The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) established four Research Expert Advisory Groups (EAGs), including a group focused on copyright, to provide commentary and peer review on all aspects of its research programme. Each EAG is made up of representatives from industry, academia and the user community who have expertise in developing and commenting on research methodologies and data. Members are voluntary and unpaid and were appointed on a personal basis.
	The full membership for the Copyright Research Expert Advisory Group (CREAG) is:
	Hasan Bakhshi—National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA)
	Adrian Brazier—Department for Culture, Media and Sport
	Ian Christie—Birkbeck College London
	Tony Clayton—Intellectual Property Office
	Pippa Hall—Intellectual Property Office
	David Humphries—Intellectual Property Office
	Martin Kretschmer—CREATe (formerly Bournemouth University)
	Nick Munn—Intellectual Property Office
	Will Page—Spotify (formerly Performing Rights Society)
	Tom Rivers—Broadcasters Representative
	Christian Zimmerman—Design and Artists' Copyright Society
	Charlotte Waelde—Exeter University
	Saskia Walzel—Consumer Focus
	Ben White—British Library.
	Of these, Professor Martin Kretschmer, Director of the CREATe Research Centre, formerly Professor of Jurisprudence at Bournemouth University, was commissioned to produce independent research on Private Copying and Fair Compensation. The contract was let by the Economic and Social Research Council as part of a competitive procurement process. The IPO co-funded this work although the winning bidder was selected solely by the ESRC.
	In addition, Professor Kretschmer has led Bournemouth University teams which have been commissioned to deliver research projects on Copyright, and the Regulation of Orphan Works and on Parody and Pastiche. Contracts for these research projects were let following a competitive tender evaluation process. Final reports will be published shortly, following peer review.

Employee Ownership

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2012, Official Report, column 729W, on employee ownership, what estimate he has made of the total costs to businesses of familiarising themselves with the amended Employment Rights Act 1996 regardless of whether they use the employee shareholder status or not.

Jo Swinson: The calculation of the total cost to business of familiarisation with the amended Employment Rights Act 1996, in relation to the employee shareholder employment status, has not yet been carried out.
	It is our intention to publish an updated impact assessment to the employment status before coming into law, which includes this calculation.

Environment Protection

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the UK's market share of the global environmental goods and services sector in 2011-12.

Michael Fallon: We currently do not have data for 2011-12. In terms of global sales, the UK is ranked sixth for the low carbon and environmental goods and services sector as a whole, with estimated sales of around £122,222 million in 2010-11 representing 3.7% of the global sales total of £3.3 trillion.

EU External Trade: USA

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many full-time equivalent staff in his Department are working on the US-EU High Level Working Group on recommendations for negotiations between the EU and US for a comprehensive free trade agreement.

Michael Fallon: The likely scope of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership means a broad range of Government officials are working on this, including: the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills; the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; Her Majesty's Treasury; the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; and the Cabinet Office. At this stage 10 to 15 officials in BIS are engaged for part of their time on aspects of this trade dossier. We expect this figure to increase as negotiations move forward.

EU External Trade: USA

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what benchmarks his Department has set for outcomes of the work of the US-EU High Level Working Group on negotiations between the EU and US for a comprehensive free trade agreement; and what workstreams on these matters have been established in his Department.

Michael Fallon: The UK supports work towards as ambitious a deal as possible that addresses market access; tariffs, regulatory issues and non-tariff barriers; and rules and standards. BIS officials continue to engage with UK businesses and trade associations to understand their specific issues when trading and investing across the Atlantic.

EU Grants and Loans: Greater London

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will support the Mayor of London's proposal for him to be granted the status of Managing Authority for EU grants allocated to London; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon: The Government is considering the Mayor's proposal that the Greater London Authority (GLA) should become a Managing Authority for the next round of European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and European Social Fund (ESF) programmes in 2014-20. I am keen to ensure that the structure of the next round of programmes supports their overarching objective of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

Government Departments: Disclosure of Information

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many events have been held under the Open Data Immersion programme; on what dates and at which locations these took place; and how many prizes have been awarded under the programme.

Matthew Hancock: The Open Data Immersion programme was formally launched on 22 February 2013 by the Open Data Institute (ODI). No events have taken place yet. The first event will be held on 20 March 2013, and I am sure the right hon. Member would be very welcome to attend.
	Further information on the 2013 Immersion programme is set out as follows and details of future themes will be posted on the ODI website in due course:
	
		
			  Crime and Justice Energy and the environment Personal data 
			 Series open for applications 22 February 2013 April 2013 September 2013 
			 Challenge Definition Day 20 March 2013 May 2013 October 2013 
			 Development/Acceleration period March-June 2013 May-September 2013 October-December 2013 
			 Creation and Innovation Weekend 21-23 June 2013 6-8 September 2013 December 2013 
			 Incubation, Mentoring and Review period 24 June-December 2013 September 2013-March 2014 January-June 2014 
		
	
	The Crime and Justice Series events will be held in London and subsequent events will be hosted around the UK.
	For each theme, seed funding will be awarded to successful ideas at the Creation and Innovation Weekend, and a prize will be awarded at the end of the Incubation, Mentoring and Review period.
	Themes for future events will be determined by demand and through open data work being developed by the Data Strategy Board and ODI. Future themes are expected to include health; transport; and welfare.

Government Departments: Disclosure of Information

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills by what date he expects an independent impact evaluation of the Open Data Immersion programme to be carried out.

Matthew Hancock: The Open Data Immersion programme is a three year programme running from 2013 to 2015. An independent impact evaluation of the programme is due to be undertaken in 2015.
	The structure of the programme will include the evaluation of individual projects as small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups develop their ideas and compete for the pre-seed investment and prizes that are awarded as part of the scheme.

Graphene

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 30 January 2013, Official Report, column 835W, on graphene, what research or statistics on international comparisons of numbers of graphene patents his Department or its agencies have (a) undertaken, (b) commissioned and (c) purchased since November 2011.

Jo Swinson: The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) produced the reports referred to in the answer of 30 January 2013, Official Report, column 835W, in November 2011. Following the renewed interest in graphene, the IPO is updating the main report with more recent data and it will be published in March 2013. Following publication, a copy will be placed in the parliamentary Library for reference. The IPO has not commissioned nor purchased any further research since November 2011.

Higher Education: Admissions

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many schools have received 20 or more Oxbridge offers since 1 January 2013;
	(2)  how many Oxbridge offers have been made to pupils in (a) Brighton and Hove, (b) East Sussex, (c) West Sussex and (d) Newham since 1 January 2013.

David Willetts: The information is not held centrally. Data on applications and acceptances are collected by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) but they do not routinely publish figures at this level of detail. UCAS is an organisation independent of government.

Holiday Leave

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what comparative assessment he has made of the average number of paid holidays by (a) law and (b) agreement in the UK and in other EU member states.

Jo Swinson: In the UK, most workers are statutorily entitled to 5.6 weeks (capped at 28 days) paid leave each year. This comprises:
	four weeks (20 days for someone working a five-day week), which gives effect to the EU working time directive requirement;
	an additional 1.6 weeks (eight days for someone working a five-day week), which represents the number of bank and public holidays in a year in England and Wales. (In Scotland there are nine days and in Northern Ireland there are 10 days).
	Some workers may be entitled to a greater amount of leave under their contract.
	Data on actual annual holidays are available through the EU Structural Earnings Survey, produced by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. These data are available online at:
	www.epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/portal/page/portal/labour_market/earnings/database

Mayor of London

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has for the devolution of additional powers to the Mayor of London; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has no plans to devolve additional powers to the Mayor of London.

Regional Growth Fund

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many individual awards from Round Two of the Regional Growth Fund have not yet received a final agreed offer; and what the monetary value of each of those awards is.

Michael Fallon: Round 2 of the Regional Growth Fund closed at the end of 2012. A small number of contracts which were either at an advanced stage of due diligence or had specific strategic value were moved onto the round 3 timetable which means that a final offer will have to be agreed by 19 April. Currently 11 awards from Round 2, with a total conditional allocation of £51.2 million, are still to receive their final offer.

Regional Growth Fund

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills by what date he expects the Exceptional Regional Growth Fund to be operational.

Michael Fallon: I announced details of exceptional Regional Growth Fund (RGF) support in my written ministerial statement of 17 January 2013, Official Report, columns 41-2WS, and it has been available since that date.

Sand: Imports

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many tonnes of sand have been imported in each of the last five years.

Michael Fallon: UK imports of sand in tonnes are shown in the following table, based on the Harmonised System Classification (HS). The total for “All natural sands” has also been separated into silica/quartz sands and other natural sands:
	
		
			 UK sand imports, 2008-12 
			 Tonnes 
			  All natural sands (HS 2505) Silica sands and quartz sands, whether or not coloured (HS 250510) Natural sands of all kinds, whether or not coloured (excl. silica sands, quartz sands, gold- and platinum-bearing sands, zircon, rutile and ilmenite sands, monazite sands, and tar or asphalt sands) (HS 250590) 
			 2008 376,362 49,560 326,802 
			 2009 314,599 76,689 237,910 
			 2010 316,535 134,559 181,976 
			 2011 579,680 310,715 268,965 
			 2012 421,506 138,445 283,061 
			 Source: BIS analysis of HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics on www.uktradeinfo.com as at 1 March 2013

Students: Loans

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many part-time students have (a) applied for and (b) been awarded loans for tuition fees in the 2012-13 academic year;
	(2)  how many part-time students have submitted an eligible application for loans for tuition fees in the 2012-13 academic year.

David Willetts: Figures are shown in the following table for the current academic year 2012/13 and are based on the status of part-time applications for tuition fee support in February 2013, five months into the academic year. The processing of applications continues after this time and so the figures are subject to change throughout the academic year.
	
		
			 Number of part-time applicants(1, 2) for tuition fee support in the 2012 entry cohort in academic year 2012/13, English domiciled students studying in the UK and EU students studying in England as at 26 February 2013 
			  Number 
			 Total number of applicants 36,300 
			 Of which:  
			 Eligible (approved for payment)(3) 31,700 
			 Ineligible(4) 300 
			 Decision pending on payment approval or eligibility 4,400 
			 (1) Excludes deleted applications. (2) Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 applicants. (3) Excludes those found to be ineligible. (4) Includes those found to be ineligible after being approved for payment.

Trade Promotion

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many British business centres he expects to be operational in India by 2017; and which other 19 locations will host overseas business networks.

Michael Fallon: UK Trade & Investment is consulting stakeholders on exactly how many centres will open in India, but we expect about six by 2017.
	Besides India, the following overseas markets are part of our pilot programme to strengthen business networks; Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Russia, Romania, Poland, Nigeria, South Africa, Mexico, Colombia, China, Hong Kong and Brazil.

Written Questions

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the procedure and sign-off process for responding to parliamentary questions in his Department includes review by special advisers.

Jo Swinson: Ministers are responsible and accountable for all answers to parliamentary questions. Special advisers may provide advice to Ministers, as outlined in the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

Copyright

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he will publish a revised impact assessment of the recommendations of the Hargreaves Review into IP and Growth that the UK should (a) also promote at EU level an exception to support text and data analytics and (b) give a lead at EU level to develop a further copyright exception designed to build into the EU framework adaptability to new technologies.

Jo Swinson: The Government's position on the Hargreaves proposals on text and data mining and technology neutrality is set out in its response to the Review at pages 7-8:
	http://www.ipo.gov.uk/ipresponse-full.pdf
	This builds on the evidence gathered during the Hargreaves Review of Intellectual Property and Growth. There are no plans to consult further or publish additional estimates of impact.
	The Impact Assessment for a UK-only text and data mining copyright exception for non-commercial use makes an indicative estimate of productivity gains of £124 million to £157 million per year.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Children: Maintenance

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been written off in arrears by the Child Support Agency and Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission in each of the last five years.

Steve Webb: The Child Support Agency has not yet written off any arrears. However, on 10 December 2012 we introduced legislation that will allow us to do so in certain limited circumstances, for example if the parent who owes child maintenance has died, or if the parent who is owed child maintenance does not want it collected. This was provided for through the Child Support Management of Payments and Arrears (Amendment) Regulations 2012.

Employment and Support Allowance

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the average length of time between an employment and support allowance (ESA) claimant contacting his Department to claim that benefit and the claimant receiving an ESA 50 application form in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012.

Mark Hoban: holding answer 1 March 2013
	The information requested is not available.

Housing Benefit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much additional discretionary housing payment awarded in respect of the introduction of the under-occupancy penalty and benefit cap is as a proportion of the aggregate loss of benefit to households estimated to be due to those measures in each local authority in England.

Steve Webb: Total losses due to the under-occupancy charge and benefit cap are not available at a local authority level.
	The additional funding towards discretionary housing payments for 2013-14 in respect of the under-occupancy measure in England accounts for about 6% of the aggregate loss of benefit to households estimated to be due to under-occupancy.
	The additional £65 million which has been allocated to the discretionary housing payments scheme for the benefit cap equates to approximately one quarter of estimated losses nationally.

Housing Benefit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of households negatively affected by (a) the under-occupancy penalty, (b) the benefit cap and (c) both measures in each local authority in England; and what the average reduction in benefit will be in each such case.

Steve Webb: The information requested at (a) the under occupancy measure, is not available at a local authority level. Estimates at a national and regional level are available in the impact assessment at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/social-sector-housing-under-occupation-wr2011-ia.Pdf
	The information requested at (b) the benefit cap, has been placed in the Library and is consistent with the impact assessment published on 16 July 2012. The table can be found at:
	http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2012-1447/LocalAuthoritybreakdownaffectedbybenefitcap.doc
	Please note that in the table household numbers are rounded to the nearest 100. Areas with fewer than 100 households affected are denoted by “..”, as additional disclosure control has been applied to these areas. For this reason, figures will not sum to the total number of households affected in the July 2012 impact assessment for the household benefit cap.
	The figures in the table assume that the situation of these households will go unchanged, and they will not take any steps to either work enough hours to qualify for working tax credit, renegotiate their rent in situ, or find alternative accommodation. The Department is identifying and writing to all the households who are likely to be affected by the cap and we are offering advice and support through Jobcentre Plus, including, where appropriate, early access to the Work programme before the cap is introduced in April 2013.
	The information requested at (c) both measures, is not available. The number of claimants affected by both measures is likely to be small. The benefit cap is more likely to affect larger families while the under-occupancy charge is less likely to affect households with children than those without. Available data do not allow the derivation of a robust estimate of this for any geography.

Housing Benefit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much funding was allocated in discretionary housing payments to each local authority in England in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14; and how much of this funding was allocated in respect of each of the policy changes scheduled to take effect in (i) 2013 and (ii) 2014.

Steve Webb: Local authorities in England received a total of £53.5 million towards discretionary housing payments for 2012-13 and will receive a total of £138.8 million in 2013-14.
	Local authorities are notified of the overall amount of discretionary housing payment funding that they will receive, as the overall allocation is ring-fenced. This is not broken down to indicative allocations for each aspect of policy, as authorities are encouraged to use maximum flexibility on a case by case basis.
	A full breakdown of allocations by English local authority will be placed in the Library.

Housing Benefit

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether people with terminal illnesses will be excluded from the under-occupancy penalty.

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether people with terminal illnesses will be exempt from the under-occupancy penalty from April 2013.

Steve Webb: People with terminal illnesses will not be exempt from the under-occupancy charge.
	We have trebled funding for discretionary housing payments to £155 million for 2013-14. Local authorities will be free to provide discretionary housing payments in cases where they believe that this is warranted.

Housing Benefit

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost to the public purse would be of exempting members of the armed forces from the social sector under-occupancy penalty.

Steve Webb: The information requested is not available.
	The Department is unable to make an estimate from survey data as the sample size for members of the armed forces affected by the social sector under-occupancy charge is small. As a result estimates would be subject to a high degree of sampling error.

Housing Benefit

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether cancer patients who require a spare room for medical reasons will be excluded from the under-occupancy penalty.

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether cancer patients who require a spare room for medical reasons will be exempt from the under-occupancy penalty from April 2013.

Steve Webb: Cancer patients who require a spare room for medical reasons will not be exempt from the under-occupancy measure. However, where the claimant receives overnight care from a non-resident carer or team of carers, an additional bedroom will be allowed when determining the number of bedrooms they need.
	We have trebled funding for discretionary housing payments to £155 million for 2013-14. Local authorities will be free to provide discretionary housing payments in cases where they believe that this is warranted.

Housing Benefit

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost to the public purse would be of exempting disabled people from the social sector under-occupancy penalty.

Steve Webb: The Department for Work and Pensions estimates that the cost in 2013-14 of exempting claimants affected by the social sector under-occupancy measure where either the claimant or partner reports a Disability Discrimination Act recognised disability would be around £300 million a year. Less than half of those affected who report a Disability Discrimination Act disability are also in receipt of disability living allowance.

Housing Benefit

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost to the public purse would be of exempting foster carers from the social sector under-occupancy penalty.

Steve Webb: The Department estimates that exempting foster carers from the social sector under-occupancy charge could cost up to £5 million a year.

Jobcentre Plus

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what internal performance standards there are for benefit centres for (a) returning calls and (b) processing claims.

Mark Hoban: The information is as follows:
	Returning Calls:
	Benefit Centres are currently moving across to a new telephony system, while this is occurring we are aiming to return calls to claimants within three hours of their initial contact with DWP.
	Processing Claims:
	Current measures are:
	Jobseeker’s allowance (JSA)—Year to date to make 90% of first payments within 16 days;
	Employment support allowance (ESA)—Year to date to make 85% of first payments within 16 days;
	Income support (IS)—year to date to make 90% of first payments within in 13 days.
	These measures are reviewed annually and we constantly try to improve on them.

Jobcentre Plus: Worthing

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether Worthing benefit centre has delivered against its internal performance standards in (a) returning calls and (b) processing claims in each of the last six months.

Mark Hoban: The information is as follows:
	(a) Returning calls:
	Currently Worthing benefit centre is delivering against the measure on two out of the three benefits.
	(b) Processing claims:
	Year to date, the site has met performance standards for two out of the three benefits it delivers.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claims for jobseeker’s allowance were withdrawn following notification of the death of the claimant where that claimant had previously claimed employment and support allowance in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012 and (d) 2013 to date.

Mark Hoban: The information requested is not readily available, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Occupational Pensions

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had with European Union officials on proposals for the Insurance and Occupational Pensions directive;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to ensure that the Solvency II capital rules will not form a blueprint for the new Insurance and Occupational Pensions directive.

Sajid Javid: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Treasury.
	There are no proposals for an Insurance and Occupational Pensions directive. However, the European Commission (Commission) is currently considering revising the occupational pensions (IORP—Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision) directive. This review is still in progress and no proposals have yet been made. The Commission aims to present proposals for a revised directive by summer this year.
	The Commission have shown interest in applying new capital requirements derived from the "Solvency II" insurance directive to occupational pensions. The Government does not see a case for this and believes such an approach could be damaging to pensions provision and economic growth. The Government has made its position very clear to the Commission.
	The Government is working closely with other organisations and member states to make sure that our concerns are heard and that impacts are carefully studied.
	As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government’s practice to provide details of all such discussions.

Older People

Jonathan Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the potential for equity release to enable a greater number of older people to stay in their homes for longer.

Norman Lamb: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department of Health.
	The Department of Health recognises that equity release products could help people pay for the costs of their social care, particularly those with limited wealth other than their home.
	In 2010, the Dilnot Commission on social care funding identified the potential for this market to develop but did not conduct a detailed assessment of its size.

Remploy: Redundancy

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to the statement of 7 March 2012, on employment support, when he plans to allocate £8 million to help ex-Remploy staff find work or access benefits; and if he will make a statement.

Esther McVey: We have already started to use the £8 million that we made available to fund the delivery of a People Help and Support Package across Great Britain. Through this package, support is available for individuals to access for up to 18 months following redundancy to help them make the transition from working at Remploy to mainstream employment.
	Each disabled factory leaver is assigned the support of a DWP personal case worker, who organises individual and personalised support for up to 18 months following factory closure. Disabled former Remploy employees are eligible for support from a personal budget, which can provide additional support where other sources of funding are unavailable. The Community Support Fund (CSF) supports projects through which disability organisations work with individuals and their families to support the transition from sheltered to mainstream employment and to participate in social activities. There are two CSF projects in Scotland.
	Around 100 disabled former Remploy workers in Scotland are choosing to work with our personal case workers to find another job. 26 jobs have been found for disabled former employees since they were made redundant. Currently 23 people are in work, including nine who are participating in the Work Choice programme. A further 26 disabled former Remploy workers in Scotland are on Work Choice undertaking training and other activities aimed at moving them closer to employment.

Social Security Benefits

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether a communications strategy has been put in place to inform all recipients of welfare benefits of their changed circumstances as a result of the welfare reforms due to be introduced in April 2013.

Mark Hoban: holding answer 1 March 2013
	Relevant targeted communications are planned as appropriate and a range of activity has already taken place.

Unemployment Benefits

Shaun Woodward: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many people aged 18-24 have been in receipt of out-of-work benefits for more than (a) six months, (b) one year, (c) two years and (d) three years in (i) St Helens South and Whiston constituency, (ii) the North West and (iii) England in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many people have been in receipt of out-of-work benefits for more than (a) six months, (b) one year, (c) two years and (d) three years in (i) St Helens South and Whiston constituency, (ii) the North West and (iii) England in the latest period for which figures are available.

Mark Hoban: The information requested above has been placed in the Library.

Work Capability Assessment

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants who underwent a computerised assessment conducted by Atos and were declared fit for work died within six months of their assessment (a) nationally and (b) in the Wigan borough council area.

Mark Hoban: Atos do not undertake computerised assessments.

Work Capability Assessment

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of claimants have appealed successfully against the original Atos determination of their capacity to work since 1 April 2012.

Helen Grant: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.
	The First-tier Tribunal—Social Security and Child Support (SSCS), administered by HM Courts and Tribunals Service, hears appeals against Department for Work and Pensions' decisions on entitlement to employment and support allowance (ESA), decisions in which the work capability assessment (WCA) undertaken by Atos is a key factor, rather than appeals against WCA decisions themselves.
	The following table shows the number and proportion of ESA appeals in which the WCA was a factor that were found (a) in favour of the appellant and (b) in favour of DWP from 1 April to 30 September 2012 (the latest date for which information is available).
	
		
			 Number and proportion of ESA (WCA) appeals found in favour of the appellant 
			   Decisions in favour of the appellant Decisions in favour of DWP 
			  Total ESA (WCA) cases cleared at hearing(1) Number Percentage Number Percentage 
			 April-September 2012 88,600 37,600 42 50,700 57 
			 (1) These are cases that were disposed of at a hearing. The total number of cases cleared at hearing includes some cases that were withdrawn and on which no decision was made. These figures therefore are not the sum total of decisions in favour and decisions upheld. Note: The above data is taken from management information in line with published statistics and values are rounded to the nearest hundred.

Work Capability Assessment

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many appeals against a work capability assessment decision were withdrawn following the notification of death of the appellant in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012 and (d) 2013 to date.

Mark Hoban: holding answer 1 March 2013
	The information requested is not available.

Work Capability Assessment

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people waited (a) between 0 and 13 weeks and (b) more than 13 weeks to undergo a work capability assessment in (i) 2011, (ii) 2012 and (iii) 2013 to date.

Mark Hoban: The following table shows the number of employment and support allowance (ESA) claims where the time between the claim start and the work capability assessment (WCA) output was (a) between 0 and 13 weeks and (b) more than 13 weeks for initial WCAs completed (i) in 2011 and (ii) between January and August 2012 (the latest data available).
	
		
			 Number of ESA claims where the time between claim start and WCA output was (a) between 0 and 13 weeks and (b) more than 13 weeks for initial work capability assessments completed (i) in 2011 and (ii) between January and August 2012(1) 
			 WCA completion date Completed within 13 weeks Completed in more than 13 weeks Total assessments completed 
			 January 2011 to December 2011 101,910 208,360 310,270 
			 January 2012 to August 2012 44,210 196,050 240,260 
			 (1) Latest data available. Note: All volumes are rounded to the nearest 10. Source: Department for Work and Pensions benefit administration datasets. 
		
	
	The figures exclude any time spent in the assessment phase after the WCA decision is made—as is the case for appeals. Claims that are closed before the WCA is completed, and those awaiting a WCA decision, are also excluded. The data relates to initial assessments for new ESA claims; incapacity benefit reassessment claims are not included.
	For approximately 15% of all new claims, the duration cannot be determined due to data not being available, so these have been excluded from the above figures.

Work Capability Assessment

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many mental function champions have been employed by Atos Healthcare for the purposes of the work capability assessment in (a) total and (b) each region in the UK in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011, (iii) 2012 and (iv) 2013 to date.

Mark Hoban: In 2010, there were no mental function champions (MFC) employed by Atos Healthcare.
	On 3 May 2011 the first tranche of 14 MFCs were trained and in place to provide national coverage, this was completed on time. By 31 May 2011 the second tranche of training had been completed on time, and accumulatively there were 45 MFCs in place to provide national coverage.
	The training of the final tranche of MFCs was completed by 31 July 2011. Since this date, 60 MFCs have been employed by Atos Healthcare, this is a national service and regional information is not available.

Work Capability Assessment

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Atos Healthcare-approved health care professionals were withdrawn from carrying out functions under the Medical Services Agreement for failing to satisfy the required quality standards in (a) 2010, (b) 2011 and (c) 2012.

Mark Hoban: Atos Healthcare's policy is always to actively manage the performance of a health care professional who does not meet required quality standards; providing appropriate training and mentoring to allow for improvement.
	Health care professionals cease to provide services for a variety of reasons which are categorised on the Atos Healthcare's internal database; they record a category relating to “performance—quality” which shows the following revocations of health care professionals from undertaking DWP medical assessments:
	In 2010: four revocations;
	In 2011: two revocations;
	In 2012: six revocations.

Work Capability Assessment

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Atos-approved healthcare professionals have been deployed in benefit centres in (a) 2011, (b) 2012 and (c) 2013 to date; and at which sites such professionals were based.

Mark Hoban: Until December 2011, face to face advice was provided to decision makers on an ad hoc basis equating to 548 man days. This was provided in the following DWP benefit centres:
	Nottingham/Leicester
	Luton
	Stratford
	Sunderland
	Preston
	Clyde and Fife
	Canterbury
	Plymouth
	Wrexham
	Wolverhampton
	Barnsley
	There were no Atos Healthcare professionals deployed in Department for Work and Pensions benefit centres during 2012 and 2013 to date. From December 2011, Atos Healthcare has provided a contractually agreed telephone service to provide advice to decision makers who require clarification in relation to a specific case.
	Telephone service is available every weekday 9 am to 5 pm.

Written Questions

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether the procedure and sign-off process for responding to parliamentary questions in his Department includes review by special advisers.

Mark Hoban: Ministers are responsible and accountable for all answers to parliamentary questions. Special advisers may provide advice to Ministers, as outlined in the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers,

JUSTICE

Legal Profession

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what (a) formal and (b) informal Government and professional rules and regulations are in place to control the number of entrants into the legal profession.

Helen Grant: There are no formal or informal Government rules or regulations in place that control the number of entrants into the legal profession.
	Approved legal regulators, which are independent of Government, set the entry requirements for their respective organisations. They publish the relevant rules and regulations on their websites.

Legal Profession

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will take steps to stop people from being barred from the legal profession where false and malicious complaints are made about them to the police; and if he will make a statement.

Helen Grant: The Government is not responsible for deciding who is admitted or barred from entering the legal profession.
	The approved regulators, who are independent of Government, are responsible for the admission and removal of members from the legal profession.

Motor Vehicles: Spare Parts

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have been prosecuted for (a) producing and (b) importing counterfeit motor vehicle parts in each of the last five years.

Jeremy Wright: Information held centrally by the Ministry of Justice on the court proceedings database does not include the circumstances behind each case beyond the description provided in the statute. It is not possible to separately identify from this centrally held information which prosecutions brought before the courts were for production and importing of counterfeit motor vehicle parts.

Probation

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice in the event that he outsources probation tasks, what training and experience staff employed by the private sector will have in supervising offenders who have exhibited sexual or violent behaviour.

Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice has recently consulted on plans for reforming the way in which offenders are rehabilitated in the community. The consultation closed on 22 February and we are considering the responses received.
	As set out in our consultation paper, we propose that offenders managed under Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) and others who are assessed as posing a high risk of serious harm will be managed directly by the public sector probation service.
	Under our proposed reforms, we anticipate that existing probation professionals will work in the public, private and voluntary sectors. They will use their skills and experience to work with all offenders to reduce reoffending and protect the public. All providers in the new market will be required to sustain appropriate skills for these services. We have sought consultees' views on the best way of ensuring that professional standards are maintained and that the quality of training and accreditation is assured.
	We will publish our response to the consultation in due course.

Probation

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  in the event that he outsources probation tasks, what steps he plans to take to ensure proper and diligent departmental oversight of contracts;
	(2)  in the event that he outsources probation tasks, what steps he plans to take to ensure contract compliance.

Jeremy Wright: The Ministry of Justice has recently consulted on plans for reforming the way in which offenders are rehabilitated in the community. The consultation closed on 22 February and we are considering the responses received.
	We will ensure we can identify good performance and reward this, and that we have robust measures in place to manage poor performance. We are consulting with providers, practitioners and wider stakeholders to build our understanding of how best to achieve this across these services. We are also looking at the best lessons from contract and performance management from across Government. These will be fed into the design of competition and contractual structures.
	We will publish our response to the consultation in due course.

Reoffenders

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of prisoners released from (a) HMP Holme House, (b) HMP Kirklevington Grange, (c) HMP Durham, (d) HMP Frankland, (e) HMP Low Newton and (f) HMYOI Deerbolt reoffend within (i) six months, (ii) 12 months and (iii) three years of their release.

Jeremy Wright: The following table presents the number of adult offenders who were released from HMP Holme House, HMP Kirklevington Grange, HMP Durham, HMP Frankland, HMP Low Newton and HMYOI Deerbolt in the 12 months ending March 2011, and the proportion that committed a proven reoffence within 12 months of release (the proven reoffending rate). These figures are published quarterly in the Proven Reoffending Statistics Bulletin on the Ministry of Justice website at:
	www.justice.gov.uk/statistics/reoffending/proven-re-offending
	We do not produce six month or three year proven reoffending rates for offenders released from custody by individual prison.
	
		
			 Table 1: Proven reoffending rates for adult offenders released from custody in the 12 months ending March 2011, by individual prison and custodial sentence length 
			 Prison Number of offenders in cohort(1) Proportion of offenders who reoffend (%) 
			 Offenders given sentences of less than 12 months   
			 Holme House 627 69.4 
			 Kirklevington Grange 0 n/a 
			 Durham 427 75.6 
			 Frankland 0 n/a 
			 Low Newton 192 65.6 
			 Deerbolt 164 69.5 
			    
			 Offenders given sentences of 12 months or more   
			 Holme House 538 52.0 
			 Kirklevington Grange 99 7.1 
			 Durham 253 47.8 
			 Frankland 14 (2)— 
			 Low Newton 105 41.0 
			 Deerbolt 309 48.5 
			 n/a = not applicable. (1) This does not represent all proven offenders. Offenders who are released from custody are matched to the Police National Computer database. A certain proportion of these offenders cannot be matched and are, therefore, excluded from the offender cohort, i.e. the group of offenders for whom reoffending is measured. (2) Proportions based on less than 30 offenders are removed as they make data unreliable for interpretation. 
		
	
	A proven reoffence is defined as any offence committed in a one year follow-up period and receiving a court conviction, caution, reprimand or warning in the one year follow-up. Following this one year period, a further six month waiting period is allowed for cases to progress through the courts.

Social Networking: Evidence

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have been convicted of offences using evidence obtained from social networking websites since 2011.

Jeremy Wright: Information held centrally by the Ministry of Justice on the court proceedings database does not contain information about the circumstances behind each case, beyond the description provided in the statute under which proceedings are brought. It is not possible to separately identify from this centrally held information whether or not an offender was convicted of an offence using evidence obtained from social networking websites.

Young Offenders

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what arrangements are in place for young offenders who have previously had an education health and care plan when they leave the criminal justice system and return to mainstream society.

Jeremy Wright: Proposals for Education, Health and Care Plans are one of the measures included in the Children and Families Bill. They are being trialled in a number of pathfinders across the country. Existing arrangements for those who have previously had a statement of special educational needs continue to apply to anyone leaving the criminal justice system.
	Subject to the successful passage of the Children and Families Bill local authorities will have a duty to maintain and review a young person's Education Health and Care Plan when they are released from custody. This will ensure that the appropriate support and provision is in place for the young person after their release.